OxEN.J 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



1C7 



sical writers. The plough was a very simple instru- 

 ment, as it still continues in the East, and is rather 

 formed for turning up superficially a light soil, than 

 for making deep lunows in heavy land. It appears 

 that the ploughman, to work it effectively, was 

 under the necessity of guiding it with great care, 

 bending over it, and loading it as far as possible 

 with his own weight, otherwise the share would only 

 glide the surface without making a furrow, and tlie 

 slighte.^t inattention or cessation of liis labour would 

 be followed by the dragging out of the share from 

 the earth, or by irregularity in the depth and direc- 

 tion of the furrow ; hence the expression of Pliny, 

 " arator, nisi incurvus, praevaricatur." The illus- 

 trations of the use of the ox in ancient times in 

 Egypt (Fig. 725) and in modern Syria (Fig. 726), as 

 well as in Tartary by the nomadic people (Fig. 727), 

 need no particular comment. 



Fig. 728 represents the Ox of Syria, together with 

 the wild Ass and Camel. 



Fics. 720, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, are illus- 

 trations of the Zebu breed of oxen, which claims a 

 few observations. Whether the zebu breed of oxen 

 be derived, as some contend, from a distinct origin 

 from that of the ordinary ox, we will not attempt to 

 determine : suffice it to say that it presents marked 

 peculiarities which clearly characterize it. Narrow 

 high withers surmounted by a large fatty hump, 

 an arched back rising at the haunches and sud- 

 denly falling to the tail, slender limbs, a large 

 pendulous dewlap falling in folds, long pendent 

 ears, and a peculiarly mild expression of the eye, 

 proclaim the zebu race — a race varying in size 

 from that of our largest cattle to that of a young 

 calf. This breed is spread over India, China, and 

 the Indian Islands ; it is also found in Madagascar 

 and on the eastern coast of Africa, in the interior 

 regions, and parts of the western coast, and is used 

 for the ordinary purposes of draught and burden. 

 India appears to be its parent country, and we may 

 readily believe that in remote ages, when an exten- 

 sive commerce existed between that country and 

 Egypt, it was introduced into the land of the Pha- 

 raohs. In Upper Egypt, Abyssinia, and Ethiopia, 

 it is now almost exclusively prevalent ; but in Lower 

 Egypt, as we learn from Burckhardt, the zebu or 

 humped race is unknown. In the ancient Egyptian 

 repre>entations of animals, both the humped race 

 and the ordinary ox with long horns are clearly 

 depicted. (Fig. 736.) It is the zebu ox which is 

 sculptured in the cave-temples of Ellora, and the 

 seven pagodas, as they are commonly called, at 

 Mahimalaipur on the Coromandel coast. We have 

 thus proofs of the extreme antiquity of this breed, 

 and of its distinctness at a remote era from the 

 ordinary ox, and that its peculiar characters were 

 what we now see. 



UufFon observes that the ox without a dorsal 

 hump (which he erroneously terms the Aurochs 

 race) occupies the cold and temperate zones, and is 

 thinly distributed towards the regions of the south ; 

 on the contrary, the ox with the hump (which he 

 terms also erroneously the Bison race) exclusively 

 occupies all the southern regions — namely, the en- 

 tire continent of the Indian empire, the islands of 

 the Eastern and Southern seas, and the whole of 

 Africa from Mount Atlastothe Cape of Good Hope, 

 including Madagascar, and the island of St. Juan 

 on the channel of Mosambique. With respect to 

 the Cape of Good Hope, it is certain that the zebu 

 race does not prevail there, at least in the present 

 day ; but F. Leguat (see his ' Voyages,' &c., 1720) 

 observes that " the oxen are of three sorts at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, all of a large size, and very 

 active ; some have a hump on the back, others have 

 the horns long and pendent, while others have 

 them turned up and well shaped, as in English 

 cattle." 



With respect to the ox represented on the Greek 

 and Roman sculptures, which is not of the true zebu 

 race, it must be confessed that in many points, and 

 more particularly in the pendulous folded dewlap, 

 it resembled the zebu, and may probably have been 

 the ultimate product of a mixture of the zebu race, 

 introduced at an early date from India, with the 

 ordinary cattle of Greece and Italy. This, however, 

 is a mere sugge?tion. In the Greek sculptures the 

 o.x is represented without any hump, but ttie withers 

 are hiph and the crupper rounded. " To the clas- 

 sical antiquary," says a talented writer, " we beg to 

 suggest that the dewlap of the Brahmin bull offers 

 an olyi'Ct of much attention and interest, by reason 

 of its sharp and decided outline, and perpendicular 

 creases or folds, wonderfully veiilying the correct- 

 ness of those Greek sculptures on bronze and 

 marble, in medals and statuary, in which we see 

 rejiresentations of Victory sacrificing a bull, of the 

 oxen of Ceres, &e. These representations will no 

 longer be considered out of drawing l)y those who 

 may have an opportunity of examining the sacred 

 bull of India, nor exfiggeiated in the.r Ibre-qiiaiters, 

 although critics of the last century (less fortunate 

 in this respect than the visitors of the Zoological 



Society's gardens) have determined them without 

 hesitation to be altogether incorrect." Several 

 beautiful specimens of the zebu ox, both of the 

 large-sized variety and also of the dwarf caste, are 

 in the Zoological Gardens. They are remarkable 

 for their docility and quiet temper. 



Mr. Youatt inlbrms us that a beautiful zebu bull 

 and cow of the Nagore breed were exhibited at the 

 Christmas Cattle-show in 1832, and adds, that they 

 were bred by Lieut. -Colonel Skinner, on his farm at 

 Danah near Pukah, on the borders of the Bichaneer 

 desert, a hundred miles to the westward of Delhi. 

 They were of the highest breed of Indian cattle, 

 used by the higher orders to draw their state car- 

 riages, and much valued for size, speed, and en- 

 durance. The specimens in question " arrived at 

 Calcutta, a distance of fourteen hundred miles, in 

 January, 1829, and were then something under six 

 months old. They were sent as a present to Mr. 

 Wood, who was then residing at Calcutta, and by 

 whom they were forwarded to Mr. Perkins. Colonel 

 Skinner has a large stock of them, and six or seven 

 beasts are always kept saddled, to carry the mili- 

 tary despatches. They remain saddled three or four 

 hours, and if not wanted in that time, fresh ones 

 are brouglitout to relieve their companions. They 

 will travel with a soldier on their back fifteen or 

 sixteen hours in the day, at the rate of six miles an 

 hour. Their action is particularly fine, nothing 

 like the English cattle with the sideway circular 

 action of their hind-legs : the Nagore cattle bring 

 their hind-leE:s under them in as straight a line as 

 the horse. They are very active, and can clear a 

 five-barred gate with the greatest ease. Mr. Per- 

 kins has a calf which has leaped over an iron fence 

 higher than any five-barred gate, and the bull fre- 

 quently jumps over the same fence in order to get 

 at the water, and when he has drunk his fill, leaps 

 back again." ..." Mr. Perkins very properly ob- 

 serves, that the chief advantage of these Brahmin 

 bulls would probably consist in their speed and 

 strength, in both of which they surpass any of our 

 breeds." 



Of the extensive use and consequent value of the 

 Brahmin or large zebu breed in their native climate, 

 we can scarcely form an adequate idea. In some 

 parts of India the dwarf races are unknown, and 

 this is bred exclusively. Accoiding to an observa- 

 tion of Colonel Sykes, in the ' Proceeds. Zool. Soc.,' 

 the Brinjarees, a singular erratic people, possess vast 

 herds, and breed the Brahmin cattle on an exten- 

 sive scale ; " and an army rarely moves in the field 

 without 15,000 or 20,000 bullocks to carry its sfiain. 

 Dwarf cattle are not met in Dukhun." The buffalo, 

 however, divides the palm of usefulness with the 

 zebu in the agricultural labours of India, and is pre- 

 ferred for many purposes, on account of his more 

 robust constitution. In the Mawals, or hilly tracts 

 among the Ghauts, this animal supersedes the zebu. 

 " In those tracts," says Colonel Sykes, " much rice 

 is planted, and the male buffalo, from his superior 

 hardihood, is much better suited to resist the effects 

 of the heavy rains and the splashy cultivation of 

 rice than the bullock. The female is also infinitely 

 more valuable than the cow, from the very much 

 greater quantity of milk she yields." In point of 

 beauty and docility there is no comparison between 

 the heavy savage buffalo and the " Sacred bull of 

 Bramah." Nor is the former ever devoted to l!al- 

 Siva as a meritorious offering. On the contrary, it 

 is common to meet with Brahmin bulls thus devoted, 

 which wander at their pleasure, exempt from the 

 servitude of the yoke, and which are regarded as 

 endowed with a sacred character. The beautiful 

 form and sleek appearance of tliese fortunate crea- 

 tures particularly eneaged the notice of Bishop 

 Heber. The first which the bishop met in his 

 journey was grazing in a green paddy-field, and was 

 branded on the haunches with the emblem of Siva. 

 He crossed their path tame and fearless, and seeing 

 some grass in one of the Europeans hands, coolly 

 walked up and smelt it. These privileged bulls are 

 turned out when calves, on certain solemn occasions, 

 by wealthy Hindoos, as acceptable offerings to the 

 divinity Siva. To strike or any way injure or mo- 

 lest one of them is held as a mortal sin. " They 

 feed," he observes, " where they choose, and devout 

 persons take great delight in ]}ampering them. They 

 are exceeding pests in the villages near Calcutta, 

 breaking into gardens, thrusting their noses into the 

 stalls of fruiterers' and pastry-cooks" shops, and help- 

 ing themselves without ceremony. Like other petted 

 animals they are sometimes mischievous, and are 

 said to resent with a push of their horns any delay 

 in gratifying their wishes."* 



Between this absurd reverence for consecrated 

 bulls and the ordinary treatment of the working ox 

 there is a vast distinction: the latter is harshly and 

 often severely treated. The cow, however, has 

 more forbearance exercised towards her than from 

 the treatment of the ox might be expected. Bishop 

 Heber, speaking of the mode of treading out the 

 • • Journey,' vol. i., p. 145. 



corn still practised in India, relates the following : — 

 " One of the Hindoo farmers was threshing out a 

 small kind of millet by driving oxen over it, round 

 and round in a circle. They were just leaving off 

 work as I came up, and a hind was bringing a large 

 bundle of green Indian-corn, weeded from the thick, 

 crop, for their provender. I observed, however, 

 that the animals, during their previous employment, 

 were not muzzled, according to the Scriptural rule, 

 at the same time they were kept so constantly 

 moving, that a few mouthfuls were all they could 

 get. While I was examining this heap of grain, 

 and asking the old man some questions, his cows 

 came for the evening, and I pleased him exceed- 

 ingly, when the cowman ran forward to beat them 

 from my path, by forbidding him to strike them. 

 ' Good ! good!' he said, with an air of much satis- 

 faction ; ' one must not beat cows.' It seems to me 

 that the tender mercies of the Hindoos towards ani- 

 mals are exhausted on cows (and Brahmin bulls) 

 only ; for oxen they have no pity — they are treated 

 with much severity.'* That the ox should be se- 

 verely treated or employed in haid work by the 

 Brahmins seems a sort of contradiction to the prin- 

 ciples by which these people profess to be guided , 

 but such inconsistencies are too common to be sur- 

 prising. 



Thfivenot, who describes the zebu oxen of India 

 as excellent both for the saddle and draught, adds 

 that some gallop as fast as a good horse, and goes, 

 on to state that they are equally used for the plough 

 and for coaches and chariots. They are harnessed 

 by means of a long yoke at the end of the pole 

 which is placed on the neck of the two oxen, and 

 the driver holds in his hand the cord which is at- 

 tached to a small double cord passed through the 

 gristle of the nose, instead of a bit in the mouth, as 

 in the case of the horse. 



It would appear that white oxen are highly es- 

 teemed in India, as they have also been in other 

 parts of the world. Olearius (tome i., p. 4.08) notices 

 the procession of an Indian prince, who was draun 

 in a carriage by two white oxen, which had the 

 neck short and a hump between the thoulders, but 

 which were as lively and active as horses. Bishop 

 Heber observes that the Thakoors, the nobility of 

 the Rajpoots, generally travel in covered wagg"ons 

 drawn by white oxen, whose horns they gild. Ta- 

 vernier observes, " The two oxen which -were har- 

 nessed to my carriage cost me nearly six hundred 

 rupees. The reader need not be astonished at this 

 price; for these are oxen of great strength, and 

 which travel journeys of twelve to fifteen leagues a 

 day for sixty days, and always on the trot. When 

 they have done half their day's work they have 

 two or three balls (the size of a penny loaf) of 

 wheaten flour kneaded with butter and coarse 

 sugar; and in the evening their ordinary tare con- 

 sists of chickpeas bruised and steeped half an hour 

 in water." 



Of the docility, activity, and services of the zebu 

 ox in India much more need not be said. Nume- 

 rous travellers, both in the past and present century, 

 give the same testimony and record observations 

 bearing upon the same point. 



Receding westward from India to Persia we 

 gradually lose the zebu race, or at least find it in- 

 termingled with that of another type. Chardin 

 (vol. i].) observes, " Tiie oxen of Persia are like ours, 

 excepting towards the frontiers of India, where they- 

 have the hunch on the back. Throughout the 

 whole country, the ox is seldom eaten as food; it 

 is only reared as a beast of burden or for tillage. 

 Such as are used lor burdens are shod with iron, in 

 consequence of the stony mountains over whicli 

 they have to travel." The shoeing of oxen, where 

 the country is rugged and the roads hard or stony,, 

 is also practised in India, as Th6venot relates, biit 

 is not a general custom. The shoes are light, and 

 two are placed on each foot, as the cloven character 

 of the hoof necessarily requires, so that the natuial 

 freedom of each part is not impeded. In Persia 

 the bull is offen made to fight with the lion, and 

 sometimes conies off victorious, though dreadfully 

 lacerated. (Fig. 737.) 



Thus much respecting the distinction between 

 the zebu race of cattle and the ordinary breeds of 

 Europe, and their apparently natural distribution. 

 Whichever breed or race we contemplate, we shall 

 find it adapted to the service and necessities of 

 man, its value being in proportion. It will readily 

 be admitted, however, that the interest which at- 

 taches to the ox does not arise from its intelligence, 

 but from its absolute utility ; the pleasure which the 

 mind experiences when we gaze on peaceful herds 

 feeding in tranquil security is of a complex origin, 

 the result of an association of ideas more or less 

 remotely connected with the presence of these crea- 

 tures, which, time immemorial, have formed the 

 wealth of man, and which have therefore engaged 

 alike the attention of the statesman, the poet, and 

 the philosopher. 



• ' Journey,' vol. i., p. 311, 



