518 The wild Sheep of Afghanistan. 



selves as part of the flock, or in their proper sphere, keeping 

 generally aloof, and striking fiercely at any male that may 

 happen to approach them. 



One of these animals was brought by a chief from the 

 Huzarreh hills to Candahar, and kindly presented to me by 

 Major Leech, then Political Agent at that city, a gentleman 

 whose liberality in furnishing information and assistance on 

 all occasions, is as proverbial among those who enjoy the 

 pleasure of his acquaintance, as his knowledge of the country 

 and of the people, is deep and extensive. 



This specimen was a young male of about four years old. 

 It had been taken on the hills when quite a lamb, and 

 brought up in the house, evidently in close confinement, as 

 the hoofs had grown out of all natural proportion. By 

 turning him loose into a large court yard, this defect was 

 soon remedied, by the hoof splitting off, and wearing down 

 to the natural size. 



In a few days he felt perfectly at home, and reconciled to 

 his new abode, and charged all intruders with a spirit and 

 determination that soon left him in undisputed possession 

 of the yard. A native servant who fed him, and myself, were 

 soon the only persons he would allow to approach him with- 

 out charging ; but I generally carried a short thick stick in 

 my hand, which he had, I suspect, a greater respect for, than 

 for me. 



His mode of attack was singular, partaking more of the 

 manners of the goat, than of the sheep tribe. 



Instead of charging and throwing in the whole weight of 

 his body, as the tame ram does, he galloped quickly up till 

 within a few paces, and then rose on his hind legs with his 

 head thrown threateningly on one side, exactly similar to a 

 goat. In this manner he made a cut down, and a jerk up, 

 with the ribbed front of his cimetar-shaped horn, as with a 

 sabre ; and on one or two occasions when he attacked a 

 large tame ram, which was a noted bruiser, he conquered 



