2^2 Phyfical and Mifcellaneous 



NoGeidiftgs A Gelding among the Horfes, or a Weather among the 

 ^'^' Sheep, is rarely if ever known in this Country. For fuch Males 



of Sheep or of the Black Cattle, as are more than fufficient for 

 the Prefervation of the Species, have, when they are about 

 three Months old, their Tefticles only fqueezed or difcom- 

 pofed ; the Mahometans accounting it an A6t of great Cruelty, 

 to caftrate any other Creatures, except thofe of their own 

 Species. 

 The N:mi>er Bcfidcs thc grcat Variety of the Cattle of this Country, we 

 vftheirFiocks. ^^^^^ obfcrvc further, that each Species is very numerous and 

 prolifick. Several Arahian Tribes can bring into the Field 

 only three or four hundred Horfes, at the fame Time they are 

 polfelTed of more than fo many thoufand Camels, and triple a- 

 gain that Number of Sheep and Black Cattle. The Arabs 

 rarely kill any of their Flocks, living chiefly upon their Milk 

 and Butter, or elfe upon what they get in Exchange for their 

 Wool. Such Cattle likewife, as are brought to the neighbour- 

 ing Towns and Villages , are a very inconfiderable Number, 

 when compared with the yearly Breed and Increafe. By pro- 

 per Care therefore and Attendance ; nay if thefe numerous 

 Flocks and Herds had Shelter only, during the Winter Seafon, 

 from the Inclemency of the Weather, this whole Country, in 

 a few Years, would even teem and be over-run with Cattle. 

 The Bekker Of Cattle that are not naturally tame and domefticated , 

 i^Suu! thefe Kingdoms afford large Herds of the Neat Kind, called 

 Bekker el Wajh ' by the Arabs. This Species is remarkable 

 for having a rounder Turn of Body, a flatter Face, with Horns 

 bending more towards each other than in the tame Kind. It 

 is therefore, in all Probability, the Bos Africanus of Bellonius % 

 which He feems juftly to take for the Bubalus of the Antients ; 

 though, what He defcribeth, is little bigger than the Caprea 

 or Roe Buck, whereas ours is nearly of the fame Size with the 

 Red-Deer, with which alfo It agreeth in Colour. The young 

 Calves of this Species quickly grow tame, and herd with other 

 Cattle. 



I jji,!^kl^ yh i. e. Bos Silveftrls. <-i»a.} (wlftiy^ enitn Ferum, Sylveftre animal figni- 

 ficat. Gol. 2 Vid. iet. Bellon. Obfervat. I. 2. cap. jo. Infignia Bourn ferorum genera, 

 jubatos B'tfontes excellentique & vi & velocitate IJros, quibus imperitum vulgus Bubalorum 

 nomen imponit, cum Id gignat Africa, vituli potius CVmre quadam fimilitudine. Plin. I. 8. 

 cap. If. Vros imperitum vulgus vocat B«irffc/j cum Buhali pea^ ad (ervmam fadem ia Africa 

 procreentur. J. Sglin. Polyhift. cap. 32. 



The 



