ORDER RUMINANTIA. 409 



being observable in the colour, both having the same vari- 

 ations of the brown shades ; nor in their stature, both being 



bred in nearly the same habits of freedom, on the same 

 food, and the domestic not undergoing any labour. By 

 them it is called Shial, from which, most probably, its 

 name of Gayal. It is possible that the wild cattle of Siam, 

 who use their terrible horns with great success against the 

 Tiger, noticed by Colonel Syms under the name Catin, are 

 of this species. 



Gayals never descend to the plain of their own accord, 

 residing in Tipura, Silhet, and Chatgaon, Bhotou, and 

 Cath-har, west of Manipus. They are little known beyond 

 the Burrampootra. The Mugs name them J'hongnuah, 

 and the Burmas, Nunel. In the Hindoo Sastras they are 

 called Gobay, As'l Gayal, and Seloc by the Cucis of Chat- 

 gaon, who hunt them for their flesh. They have a full 

 eye, but are subject to blindness in old age ; in disposition 

 rather gentle, even in a wild state not being considered 

 dangerous. They delight to range in the thickest forests, 

 browsing evening and morning on tender shoots and shrubs, 

 seldom feeding on grass, retiring to the mountain shade to 

 ruminate, and never wallowing in water ; they live from 

 fifteen to twenty-six years ; at five years old they are nearly 

 adult: at three years the female receives the bull, and goes 

 eleven months. The milk is not abundant nor lasting, but 

 very rich. The Hindoos will not kill the Gayal or Gobay, 

 which they hold in equal veneration with the Cow, and quote 

 the Sastra: " Gosadrisha, Govayah," a Govay is like an ox, 

 from whence their casuists infer that it is not an ox; still 

 they are occasionally sacrificed by some sects to the hill- 

 gods. Go, an ox or bull ; viana, wild, are stated to be the 

 root of Govaya. 



Mr. Bird afforded from Dacca decisive information re- 

 specting their breeding with the Indian bull. " Having 

 brought a domesticated female Gayal from Chittagong to 



Vol. IV. 2 E 



