1835.] Report on the Island of Socotra. 147 



trouble to supply as many of these as might be required. The number on 

 the island at present exeeds 1600. 



Vast flocks of sheep and goats are found in every part of the island, 

 the latter are indeed so numerous, that the owners never trouble themselves 

 with counting them; the sheep have not the enormous tail which disfigures 

 those of Arabia and Egypt; they are usually small, and lean, with remarka- 

 bly slender legs, and their flesh is not well tasted. The Bedouins wash them 

 every two or three months, to prevent them from getting the rot; their 

 wool is manufactured into the thick cloaks which are so well known in 

 Arabia and Persia. There are several varieties of goat on the island, 

 and a milch-goat, of which nearly equal care is taken with the sheep : ano- 

 ther kind, of a reddish color, with long shaggy hair, which is permitted to 

 rove about the island, and which appears common property ; a third is the 

 wild goat, which is only found in the loneliest glens, or on the summit of 

 the loftiest hills; their flesh is much prized by the Bedouins. When the shep- 

 herds are desirous of catching them, they seek about for their haunts until 

 they discover the track by which they pass up and down the mountains; 

 across this they spread a net. One of their number then ascends to the sum- 

 mit of the mountain by another route, and makes his appearance before the 

 animal, who no sooner discovers him than he darts down the path and 

 becomes entangled in the net, where he is quickly secured by those who are 

 stationed there for that purpose. Amidst the hills over Tamarida and oh 

 the plain contiguous to it, there are a great number of asses which were 

 described to me as differing in some respects from the domestic ass, but 

 after repeated opportunities of observing them I find there is no reason in 

 such a distinction. It is more than probable that the introduction of 

 camels superseded the necessity of employing them as beasts of burden, and 

 they were therefore permitted by their masters to stray where they pleas- 

 ed. They now wander about in troops of ten and a dozen, and evince little 

 fear until they are approached too close, when they dart off with much 

 speed. Although they were not applied by the natives to any useful purpose 

 they would no doubt be found, should occasion hereafter require it, of much 

 utility. The only wild animal that is known among the hills is the civet 

 cat, of which it is needless to give any description. This animal is very 

 abundant and was frequently brought to me for sale, but I have not been 

 able to learn that the natives take any trouble to collect much of its per- 

 fume. Hyenas, jackals, monkeys, and other animals which are common 

 to the hills on the shores of either continent, are unknown here; we do not 

 even find the antelope, which is the mox*e singular as it abounds on most 

 of the other islands of the Arabian coast. The dog is also unknown, and 

 one we had on board was frequently mistaken for a swine. I saw but one 

 snake during the whole of the time I was on the island, and the head of 

 that was too much bruised for me to ascertain if it was poisonous, though 

 the natives assured me it was so. From them I also learnt, that after the 

 rains a great many made their appearance, and some marvellous stories 

 were told me respecting their size and fierceness ; how true these may be, I 

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