154 ROUGHING IT IN SOUTHERN INDIA 



We had the specimen I have mentioned cooked, wishing 

 to taste it, for we were of an inquisitive turn and in the habit 

 of testing the qualities of most things ; however, it proved 

 rank and beefy, though the bird is a fruit and grain feeder. 



Among the meats that we made trial of I should place 

 bison hump first and foremost as a delicacy ; followed closely 

 by bison marrow and bison oxtail soup ; also the jelly 

 made from the feet. 



We have dined enjoyably, too, off a slice of elephant 

 rib. Though rather stringy, it was not tough, and for taste 

 might have been either mutton or beef. Wild venison and 

 wild pork were, I need hardly say, excellent. Hares, too, 

 there were in plenty for those who liked them ; but after 

 once seeing a hare's interior I never even wanted one in 

 the house again, so infested was it with parasites. I learned 

 that that particular hare was not peculiar — all are the same. 

 Rabbits do not exist wild in India, and no one keeps them 

 as pets (for fattening and future slaying !) as in England. 



We also tasted the milk of an elephant — one of the tame 

 ones, as all would understand. It proved to be the very 

 contrary to what one might imagine as necessary for the 

 sustenance of a sturdy elephant calf, being thin and bluish, 

 looking no better than skim milk and water, and tasting 

 like that. Bison milk was, of course, unobtainable, but is 

 probably very much the same as that of any other cow. 

 The milk of the ibex or wild goat we tested, and only wished 

 it were always to be had, for it must surely be the richest 

 of all, being like cream itself, and quite delicious ! The 

 opportunity of trying it was afforded us during a long and 

 important tour, the object of which was capturing ibex 

 alive, in enormous nets, for shipment home as gifts to the 

 Zoological Gardens. In this F. was entirely successful, 

 and never a one hurt among them. While in our keeping 

 these wild things became as docile as our own goats, running 

 to call at milking-time as they did. 



