THE THIBET DOG. 173 



land of the Himalaya mountains about Thibet. Their masters, 

 the Bhoteas, to whom they are most strongly attached, are a 

 singular race, of a ruddy copper colour, indicating the bracing 

 air which they breathe, rather short, but of an excellent dis- 

 position. Their clothing is adapted to the cold climate which 

 they inhabit, and consists of fur and woollen cloth. The men 

 till the ground and keep sheep, and at certain seasons come 

 down to trade, bringing borax, tincal, and musk for sale. They 

 sometimes penetrate as far as Calcutta. On these occasions, the 

 women remain at home with the dogs, and the encampment 

 is watched by the latter, which have an almost irreconcileable 

 aversion to Europeans, and in general fly ferociously at a white 

 face. A warmer climate relaxes all their energies, and they 

 dwindle even in the valley of Nipal." 



Captain Turner, who appears to be the first traveller who has 

 published any notice of these dogs, says, that near the mansion 

 of the Rajah of Bootan he observed " a row of wooden cages, 

 containing a number of large dogs, tremendously fierce, strong 

 and noisy. They were natives of Thibet -, and whether savage 

 by nature, or soured by confinement, they were so impetuously 

 furious, that it was unsafe, unless the keepers were near, even 

 to approach their dens. Entering a Thibet village and being 

 indolently disposed, and prompted by mere curiosity, I strolled 

 alone among the houses : and seeing everything still and quiet, 

 I turned into one of the stone enclosures, which serve as folds 

 for cattle. The instant I entered the gate, to my astonishment, 

 up started a huge dog, big enough, if his courage had been 

 equal to his size, to fight a lion. He kept me at bay with a 

 most clamorous bark, and I was a good deal startled at first ; 

 but recollecting their cowardly disposition, I stood still j for 

 having once had one in my possession, I knew that they were 

 fierce only when they perceived themselves feared. If I had 

 attempted to run, he probably would have flown upon me, and 

 torn me in pieces, before any one could have come to my rescue. 

 Some persons came out of the house, and he was soon silenced."* 

 * Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama in Thibet (1800). 



