hl8 HISTORY OF 



head, neck, and legs, are very like those of a deer. The colour, 

 in general, is ash or gray, from a mixture of black hairs and 

 white ; all along the ridge or edge of the neck, the hair is blacker, 

 larger, and more erect, making a short, thin, and upright mane. 

 Its horns are seven inches long ; they are six inches round at the 

 root; growing smaller by degrees, they terminate in a blunt 

 point. The bluntness of these, together with the form of its 

 head and neck, might incline us to suppose it was of the deer 

 kind ; but, as it never sheds its horns, it has a greater affinity 

 to the cow. 



From the disposition of that brought over to this countiy, 

 which has been very accurately and minutely described by Dx 

 Hunter, their manners are harmless and gentle. Although in 

 its native vvildness it is said to be fierce and vicious, this seemed 

 pleased with every kind of familiarity, and always licked the 

 hand that stroked or gave it bread, and never once attempted to 

 use its horns offensively ; it seemed to have much dependence 

 on its organs of smell, and snuffed keenly, and with noise, when- 

 ever any person came within sight ; it did so likewise when any 

 food or drink was brought to it ; and was so easily offended 

 with smells, or so cautious, that it would not taste the bread 

 which was offered, when the hand happened to smell strong of 

 turpentine. Its manner of fighting is very particular. It was 

 observed at Lord Clive's, where two males were put into a little 

 inclosure, that, while they were at a considerable distance from 

 each other, they prepared for the attack, by falling upon their 

 fore-knees, when they shuffled towards each other with a quick 

 pace, keeping still upon their fore-knees ; and when they M'cre 

 Come within some yards, they made a spring, and darted against 

 each other. The intrepidity and force with which they dart 

 against any object, appeared by the strength with which one of 

 them attempted to overturn a poor labourer, who unthinkingly 

 stood on the outside of the pales of its inclosure. The nyl- 

 ghau, with the quickness of lightning, darted against the wood, 

 work with such violence, that he broke it to pieces, and broke 

 off one of his norns close to the root, which occasioned the ani- 

 mal's death. At all the places in India, where we have settle, 

 mcnts, they are considered as rarities, and brought from the dis^ 

 tant interior parts of the country. The Emperor, sometimes, 

 kills them in such numbers as to distribute ouarters of them to 



