6514 Notice of the various 



not their natural disposition ; and the remarkable gentleness of this 

 animal is well exemplified by the following narrative of how whole 

 herds of wild gayals are tamed at a fell swoop. 



" The Kukis," writes Mr. Macrae, " have a very simple method of 

 training the wild gayals. It is as follows : — On discovering a herd of 

 wild gayals in the jungles, they prepare a number of balls of the size 

 of a man's head, composed of a particular kind of earth, salt, and 

 cotton ; they then drive their tame gayals towards the wild ones, 

 when the two soon meet and assimilate into one herd— the males of 

 the one attaching themselves to the females of the other, and vice versa. 

 The Kukis now scatter their balls over such parts of the jungle as 

 they think the herd most likely to pass, and watch its motions. The 

 gayals, on meeting these balls as they go along, are attracted by their 

 appearance and smell, and begin to lick them with their tongues; and 

 relishing the taste of the salt, and the particular earth composing 

 them, they never quit the place until all the balls are destroyed. 

 The Kukis having observed the gayals to have once tasted their balls, 

 prepare what they consider a sufficient supply of them to answer the 

 intended purpose, and as the gayals lick them up they throw down 

 more; and to prevent their being so readily destroyed, they mix the 

 cotton with the earth and salt. This process generally goes on for 

 three changes of the moon, or for a month and a half; during which 

 time the tame and wild gayals are always together licking the decoy- 

 balls; and the Kuki, after the first day or two of their being so, makes 

 his appearance at such a distance as not to alarm the wild ones. By 

 degrees he approaches nearer and nearer, until at length the sight of 

 him has become so familiar that he can advance to stroke his tame 

 gayals on the back and neck without frightening away the wild ones. 

 He next extends his hand to them, and caresses them also, at the 

 same time giving them plenty of his decoy-balls to lick; and thus in 

 the short space of time mentioned he is able to drive them along with 



pressed their brows, and alternately retreated and pushed forwards in the conflict. 

 At length, as their strength diminished, and when victory stood on the point of turn- 

 ing to the most powerful, they were parted. The weakest was driven away by the 

 Booteeas armed with bludgeons ; the other, hampered with ropes, was conducted to 

 his stall highly indignant and full of wrath. In this manner commonly the battle 

 ends ; for, if they can prevent it, they never suffer the strongest bull to pursue his 

 advantage, which would terminate in the certain destruction of his antagonist, who is 

 also exposed to the greatest danger, if he should happen to be thrown down in the 

 conflict. As they are trained for this particular purpose, the Booteeas exert their 

 utmost endeavours to preserve them for future sport." 



