266 G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N, 



" of paper, or any fmall thing that his mafter points out to him ; 

 ** it is an attefted fa6V, that if a ring be dropped into a deep 

 *' well, and a fignal given to him, he will fly down w^ith 

 ** amazing celerity, catch the ring before it reaches the water, 

 <' and bring it up to his malier with apparent exultation ; and 

 *' it is confidently alTerted, that if a houfe or any other place 

 « be iliown to him once or twice, he will carry a note thither 

 <* immediately on a proper fignal being made. 



*' One inflance of his docility I can myfelf mention with con- 

 *' fidence, having often been an eye w^itnefs of it ; the young 

 *' Hindoo women at Benares, and in other places, wear very 

 *' thin plates of gold, called ticas, flightly fixed by way of or- 

 ** nament between their eye-brows ; and when they pafs 

 " through the flreets it is not uncommon for the youthful 

 " libertines, who amufe themfelves with training Bajas, to 

 " give them a fign which they underfland, and fend them to 

 *' pluck the pieces of gold from the foreheads of their miftrefTes, 

 " which they bring in triumph to their lovers. The Baya feeds 

 *' naturally on grafshoppers and other infedts, but will fubfift 

 *' when tame, on pulfe macerated in water ; his flelli is warm 

 " and drying, of eafy digeflion, and recommended in medical 

 " books, as a folvent of ftone in the bladder or kidneys; but of 

 " that virtue there is no fufficient proof. The female lays 

 ** many beautiful eggs refembling pearls : the white of them 

 " when they are boiled is tranfparent, and the flavor of them 

 " is exquifitely delicate. When many Bayas are afTembled on 

 <' a high tree, they make a lively din, but is rather chirping 

 " than finging ; their want of mufical talents is, however, 



*' amply 



