Ill 



It should be noted that it is not dairy herds that are referred to here, but 

 breeding herds, the main function of which is the production of working 

 bullocks. As matters stand, in a country where fences are unknown and 

 robbery fairly frequent, the Arabs are in the habit of shutting up their cattle 

 every night in open roofless enclosures, in which they probably suffer more 

 from rough weather than if they were allowed to graze freely in the open. 

 Bulls, cows, and calves are all kept together in one promiscuous herd, with 

 the result that calves are dropping at all times of the year ; although it is 

 stated that the hardships which the Tunisian cow has to face are so great 

 that she rarely rears more than one calf in two years. The Arab milkers 

 usually take half the cow's milk, the balance being left to her calf, which, of 

 course, always runs with her, although provided with a special muzzle which 

 prevents its feeding at will. 



The chief function of the Tunisian cattle may be said to be to furnish the 

 means of draught for general agricultural purposes. The Arabs rarely put 

 a horse in front of the plough, although at times hybrid teams, one horse and 

 one bullock, are occasionally to be seen unevenly yoked to a native plough. 

 In the dry south, the hardier and equally deliberate camel tends to replace 

 the ox as an agricultural draught animal. It should be stated that the native 

 yokes are cruel, primitive implements, not calculated to turn to best advantage 

 the maximum effort of the team. 



For the most part, Tunisian cattle appear to belong to a breed common 

 to the whole of the North African coastal country, and also to Spain. They 

 are said to be analogous to the Texas cattle, and those of some of the South 

 American States. Here and there crossbred animals are to be met with, 

 connected generally with Italian and Sicilian breeds, and occasionally with 

 French ones. Although on various occasions improved French breeds have 

 been introduced into the Regency, they do not appear to have come into 

 favor, even with the French landowners ; mainly probably because of their 

 inability to face with equanimity six months of slow starvation. 



These Tunisian bullocks are small and sturdy, measuring from 43in. to 

 48in. at the withers ; they are said to be docile and easily trained to work, 

 whilst the work done by them is generally all that could be expected from their 

 light weight and the meagre feeding rations allowed them. For the Arab, 

 the unit of superficial area is represented by the " mechia " ; that is to say, 

 the area which the owner of a single team of bullocks hopes to break up and 

 sow to wheat in the course of a single season, which generally extends to 25 

 acres. In ordinary circumstances, however, the Arab is perfectly satisfied 

 with his efforts if he can succeed in sowing between one-half and two-thirds 

 of his " mechia," which may be taken to measure the working capacity of 

 small bullocks, kept alive on a few handfuls of chopped straw. 



As butchers' beasts these cattle are said to fatten readily when good grass 

 is available ; as milkers, however, it is to be feared that Tunisian cows must 



