AND CHINESE SHEEP. 55 



and of a grey, or mixed black and white color. The sheep 

 are below the ordinary size, the horns of the ram curved 

 back and spiral at the tip, the ears pendulous, and the tail 

 not very broad. The fine furs are from the lambs slaugh- 

 tered w^ith their dams a few days before yeaning."* 



TIBET SHEEP. 



The sheep of Tibet, which are very numerous, are chiefly 

 a small variety of the fat-rumped Persian and Abyssinian, 

 with black heads and necks. Some are hairy, with short wool 

 underneath, while others bear a long, soft, and fine wool. It 

 is from the latter that many of the costly Indian shawls are 

 made. Not a little of this peculiar wool finds its way to 

 British India, and is there manufactured. The mutton of 

 Tibet sheep is said to be peculiarly vv^ell flavored. 



EAST INDIA SHEEP. 



The sheep which abound in the provinces of British India, 

 consist for the most part of the fat-rumped and fat-tailed va- 

 rieties, and therefore no farther notice will be requisite. 



CHINESE SHEEP. 



In the immense Empire of China, as might naturally be 

 expected, breeds of sheep are found differing essentially from 

 each other. One of the most singular is the Long-legged 

 sheep, distinguished, as their name would imply, for the ex- 

 traordinary length of the legs. This breed have horns which 

 are of middle size, and curved ; the forehead is arched, the 

 neck short, with a collar of hair reaching from the nape of 

 it to the shoulders ; the head, legs, and mane are of a red- 

 brown color ; the tail is long, and the wool short and coarse. 



The fat-rumped and fat-tailed extensively abound in the 

 more southern parts of China ; and in certain districts a 

 small breed is found resembling the form of the European 

 breeds, which produces a fine and very useful long wool. 



The antiquity of Chinese manufactures is proverbial. 

 An old traveller says, that " when the Dutch presented the 

 Emperor of China with some scarlet and other cloths 

 made in Europe, he asked how, and what they were made 

 of? Being told, he replied that his subjects could make 

 ihem, and, therefore, there was no need to bring them so 

 far." 



* Fraser's Travels. 



