I 



QUADRUPEDS. 63 



it is never classed with the above-named animals by the 

 native observers in any of the countries where it occurs. 

 The nyl-ghau was unknown to the ancients, and one of 

 the first notices of it with which we are acquainted was 

 published by Dr. Parsons.* A pair were transmitted to 

 England from Bombay by Lord Olive in the year 17G7, and 

 these bred regularly for several seasons. The species is 

 not very widely distributed over the peninsula of Hindostan. 

 They still occur in the districts of Kamaghur in Central 

 India, and spread from thence to the foot of the Himmaleh 

 mountains. They are also met with in the north-western 

 provinces, and are not uncommon in many of the countries 

 which are intermediate between these and the Persian do- 

 minions. Bernier describes it as one of the objects of the 

 chase which delighted the Mogul emperor Aurengzebe, in 

 his progress from Delhi to Cashmere. It is a treacherous 

 animal, vicious and full of vigour, and a dangerous neigh- 

 bour even in the domestic state. 



The country last mentioned reminds us of a beautiful 

 species of another genus, the coat of which is highly prized 

 in commerce as the ingredient of a valuable manufacture. 

 We allude to the Cashmere goat, commonly so called, which 

 inhabits the countries of Thibet, and produces the long 

 white silky substance, for we can scarcely call it wool, from 

 which are made the famous shawls of Cashmere. The 

 cars are large, of a brown or blackish colour, and turned 

 downwards, and the limbs are slender. According to Mr. 

 Moorcroft, the Tartars of Zadouk had a monopoly of all 

 the wool produced in the districts behind Himmaleh, and 

 they were in use to send it, in exchange for other goods, to 

 be manufactured into shawls by the Cashmerians.f 



Another singular goat (which however cannot be referred. 

 like the one just mentioned, to the Capra agagrus) inhabits 

 the Jemlah chain of the Himmaleh mountains to the east 

 of the Brahmapoutra, the most elevated portion of the vast 

 Asiatic range. The horns are placed high above the front- 

 lets, come nearly in contact in front, are depressed, flattened, 

 inclined outwards, and taper suddenly at the points, which 



* Phil. Trans., vol. xliii. tm -^ , 



I Journey to Lake Majiasawara in Undes, a proviiice In Little 1 luDet. 



£ 2 



