HISTORY. 217 



and are even dangerous to be approached. Thus travellers 

 on advancing to the Tartar camps, have seen the herd ap- 

 proach as if to make an attack, whisking their long tails, and 

 tossing their heads in a menacing manner. 



This species is the only kind of cattle cultivated by many 

 of the Kalmuk tribes, and even by some of the Western 

 Tartars. Tt seems to be well adapted to the condition of 

 those elevated plains, where continual changes of place are 

 required to afford fresh pasturage for the flocks and herds 

 of the communities. The Yaks are well suited for these fre- 

 quent journeyings, being hardy, sure-footed, and capable of 

 bearing burdens. The natives make tents and ropes of their 

 hair, and coverings of their skins. The milk of the female 

 is plentiful and good, yielding excellent butter. Thus the 

 Yak is a valuable animal in those countries of migratory 

 herdsmen, yielding at the same time food and the means of 

 transport. A profitable trade, too, is pursued by the Tartars 

 in the white tails which many of the oxen produce. These 

 tails are dyed of various beautiful colours, and are in request 

 over all the East. They form the standards of the Persians 

 and Turks : they are used in India and Persia as chouries 

 or fly-fans, for which purpose they are supplied with ivory 

 handles finely carved : they are used as ornaments for the 

 harnessing of elephants and horses : the Chinese dye the 

 hair of a beautiful red, and form it into tufts for their bon- 

 nets. 



The next in order of the Bovidse is the BUBALINE group, 

 distinguished hy a narrow convex forehead, higher than wide, 

 and by angular, not rounded, horns. The general aspect of 

 these animals is clumsy, their limbs are strong, their muzzle 

 is broad, their ears are large and pendent ; their hide is thick, 

 usually coal-black, partially covered with hairs, and in the 

 warmer countries nearly destitute of hairs. They are fond 

 of water, and, like Hogs, wallow in moist and miry places. 

 The female has four mammae, but two sometimes are not de- 

 veloped. 



