CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE GOORAL. 



Nemorhcedus Goral. 



Generally throughout the Himalayas — Gdral—Ban bakrl 



In Chamba — Pij. In Kashmir — Rain — Rom. 



The Himalayan Chamois or Gooral has never become so well known, or been so much 

 sought after, as its Alpine relative ; the reason probably being that it appears insignificant 

 beside the larger and rarer objects of the chase which the Indian mountains contain. It is, 

 however, well worth the attention of the sportsman who has no opportunities of penetrating 

 far enough into the hills to reach the haunts of the Ibex, Burrell, or other members of the 

 sheep and goat families : and its pursuit will thoroughly test his skill both as a mountaineer 

 and a rifle shot. I think, indeed, that Gooral shooting has been undeservedly neglected, 

 as I know of very few who have ever devoted much time to it ; and I confess that I have 

 neglected it myself in favor of other and more varied sport. 



The Gooral is found throughout the entire length of the Himalayas, from Kashmir to 

 Bhutan, but is confined to the lower ranges and the valleys of the rivers, seldom or never 

 ascending to a greater elevation than 8,000 feet. It seems, indeed, to prefer heat, being most 

 abundant in narrow, precipitous gorges, and among the serrated ridges of the Sewaliks. 



The favorite haunts of the Gooral with which I am acquainted are the valleys of the 

 Ganges and Jumna and their tributaries, and the province of Chamba. In the latter State 

 Gooral are particularly numerous. I have several times seen, and have once shot, Gooral in 

 the Sewalik hills. 



The Gooral is about twenty-six inches in height at the shoulder, the back being rather 

 rounded and the hind quarters higher than the fore. The color is a brownish grey, merging 

 into a darker hue on the legs, and with a dark stripe along the spine. There is a conspicuous 

 white spot on the throat, which frequently betrays the animal when it would otherwise be over- 

 looked among withered grass and herbage. The horns are rather insignificant : they are jet 

 black, annulated at the base, and taper to a fine point, curving gently backwards : they 

 seldom attain a greater length than eight inches. The horns of the female are much thinner 

 and shorter than those of the male. The texture of the coat is rather coarse, the hair being 

 about two inches long, with a tendency to woolliness. 



The Gooral is one of the commonest of the Himalayan ruminants, and it is certainly 

 (with the exception, perhaps, of the Kakur or Barking Deer) the most regardless of the 



