HISTORY. 257 



dostan, and other countries of the East. Like many species, 

 he dwindles towards the countries of the Pacific, so that in 

 Corea and the Islands of Japan he is little larger than a 

 Hog, shewing that these countries are at the limits of the 

 natural habitat of the species. The finest breeds of the 

 Eastern Zebu are produced in the northern provinces of 

 India. There they are tall and graceful animals, surpass- 

 ing in the power of active motion any of the races of Oxen 

 with which we are conversant in Europe. They are used 

 for the saddle, for chariots, for the bearing of burdens, for 

 common draught, and all the labours of the field. They 

 accompany the predatory armies of Indian nations in thou- 

 sands, carrying the materials of war. They are used in state 

 processions by the Princes of India. They are guided by a 

 cord passed through the septum of the nose, to which are 

 attached the bridle-reins, which, when not used, rest upon 

 the hump of the shoulder. Their motion is easy, and they 

 trot and gallop almost as freely as a horse. They have great 

 powers of endurance, frequently travelling sixty or eighty 

 miles a-day. When employed in chariots or the plough, they 

 draw by a yoke, which rests upon the shoulder. They are 

 exceedingly tractable, and become attached to their keepers. 

 The milk-white colour is esteemed by the Hindoos, which it 

 likewise was by the ancient Egyptians, as having a charac- 

 ter of sanctity. Very often rich Hindoos dedicate a parti- 

 cular bull of the sacred colour to Siva, when he is branded 

 by the emblem of the god, and thenceforward becomes ex- 

 empt from the contumely of servitude. He wanders where 

 he will, and no one strikes, molests, or turns him from his 

 path : he feeds in the gardens, the rice fields, or wherever he 

 chooses to enter : he finds his way into the market-places 

 of towns, and helps himself to the green herbs and choicest 

 fruits, without any one driving him away. Impunity ren- 

 ders him familiar : he will take food from the hand Uke a 

 dog, and everywhere dainties are presented to him by simple 



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