THE DOMESTIC OX. 579 



of containing upwards of twenty imperial pints. These weapons are not 

 only long, but are sharply pointed, and are of so formidable a nature that 

 a lion has been kept at bay during a whole night, not daring to leap 

 upon an animal so well defended. As these horns might prove danger- 

 ous to the rider in case of the animal suddenly jerking its head, or fling- 

 ing him forward by a stumble, the natives are in the habit of trimming 

 them in various fashionable modes, by which the danger is avoided. 



Their chief employment at the Cape of Good Hope is in drawing the 

 wagons of the Boers or farmers. Ten or twelve yoke are frequently 

 employed to drag a single vehicle over the tracks of the wild country. 



THE SANGA. 



The Sanga, which at present is found in all Interior Africa, is remark- 

 able for possessing a hump on the withers. It is a strong, powerfully 

 built animal with long legs and tail. The horns are placed close together 

 at the root, and measure a yard in length. The hair is smooth, fine, and 

 usually of a chestnut color. 



DOMESTIC CATTLE. 



It is only in America that the Ox has escaped from the thraldom of 

 man. Elsewhere, it is his most valued possession. In general, high 

 honor is paid to it. The Egyptians worshipped their god Apis in the 

 form of an ox, and their Isis, like the Greek Io, is represented with cow's 

 horns. According to the traditions of India an Ox keeps the gates of 

 heaven, and the clouds are said to be the cows which Indra drives to 

 their pasture. The nomads of the Soudan possess countless herds which 

 they keep solely for their milk. The whole of South Russia swarms 

 with cattle. In Hungary the herds are so wild that men dare not 

 approach them ; and even in Italy, in the Maremma, the cattle are half- 

 wild. A remarkable contrast is presented by the condition of these 

 animals in Switzerland and Holland. The Swiss lives with his cows in 

 a perpetual exchange of reciprocal acts of kindness ; they are never ill- 

 treated or beaten. The best of them are adorned with bells, the leading 

 cow — a black one — bearing the largest. If she is deprived of this honor 

 she manifests her disgrace by lowing incessantly, and losing condition, 

 or by attacking her fortunate rival. In Spain the bull is the hero of the 



