270 G A N G E T I C H I N D O O S T A N. 



probably were imported into Britain by the Fhcenicians^ who 

 trafficked to each country. Poultry, in a ftate of nature, are 

 found in great numbers in moft of the jungles in Hindoojla:iy 

 and are exceffively wild ; they are as fmall as Bantams. The 

 females are of plain colors, and refemble a large partridge. 

 The cocks are of a moft brilliant red, and refplendent wuth a rich 

 glofs of gold. 



Peacocks are ftill found almoft univerfally in the jungles or 

 thickets of Hindoojian. The Poiygars are very ikilfid in tempt- 

 ing them by calls, out of the almoft impenetrable brufhwoods, 

 into nets and fnares. 



Hamilton faw abundance of poultry in Java ; the cocks, 

 fays he, have red heads and necks, and bodies, and black wings 

 and tail ; the hens exactly like partridges. Lord An/on found 

 them in great numbers on the Ifle of T'inian, fee voyage, p. 309. 

 M. Sonnerat^ ii. 148, gives a figure of both cock and hen, and a 

 moft tedious defcription of both fexes, but does not tell us in 

 what part of India he found thefe birds. 

 Cock-fight- The Indians are extravagantly fond of cock-fighting, efpe- 



cially the inhabitants of Sumatra^ and the oi\\tx Malay es\ the 

 account given by Mr. Marfden^ p. 234, is very entertaining. 

 They pay even greater attention to the training and feeding 

 thefe birds than we ever did, even when that diverfion was at its 

 height. They arm one of the legs only, not with a {lender gaff 

 as we do, but with arms in form of a fey meter, which make 

 moft dreadful deftrudlion. The cocks are never trimmed, but 

 fought in full feather. The Sumatrans fight their cocks for 

 vaft fums ; a man has been known to ftake his wafe or his 

 -^- children. 



ING 



