232 On the supposed Unicorn of the Himalayas. 



Mawy. These animals, they said, resided in the deepest part 

 of a forest, distant from Truman about five or six days' 

 journey, and appeared very averse to undertake any expedi- 

 tion in search of them, stating that these beings would as- 

 suredly attack any small party, especially if a woman should 

 be with them, whom they would endeavour to carry off. They 

 were unwilling also to destroy these animals, from a supersti- 

 tious belief that they are animated by the souls of their ances- 

 tors, and that they hold dominion over the great forests of 

 Sumatra. After some days' debate, however, and hearing 

 that a Mawah had been seen in the forest, the young man 

 collected a party of twenty persons, armed with muskets, 

 spears and bamboos, and having marched in an easterly di- 

 rection for above thirty miles, fell in with the object of his 

 search. The orang was sitting on the summit of one of the 

 highest trees, with a young one in its arms. The first fire of 

 the party struck off the great toe of the old orang, who uttered 

 a hideous cry, and immediately lifted up her young one as 

 high as her long arms would reach, and let it go amongst the 

 topmost branches, which appeared too weak to sustain herself. 

 During the time the party were cautiously approaching her 

 to obtain another shot, the poor animal made no attempt to 

 escape, but kept a steady watch on their movements, uttering 

 at the time many singular sounds, and, glancing her eye occa- 

 sionally towards her young one, seemed to hasten its escape 

 by waving her hand. The second volley brought her to the 

 ground, a ball having penetrated her breast, but the young 

 one escaped. She measured four feet eleven inches in length, 

 and two feet across the shoulders, and was covered with red 

 hair. It is probable, from the spot where this animal was 

 found being so near to Truman, that she was the mate of the 

 one destroyed by the party from the brig. Her remains, con- 

 sisting of the skin and all the bones, were transmitted home 

 by Capt. Hull to Sir Stamford Raffles. 



ON THE SUPPOSED UNICORN OF THE HIMALAYAS. 



Mr. Hodgson's paper on the chiru concerned the animal 

 which has been so often mentioned as the unicorn of the 

 Himala. 



The imports respecting this animal were so numerous and 

 concurring, and so borne out by the specimens of single 

 horns sent down at various times to the Asiatic Society, and 

 by Bhotea drawings of a deerlike animal, with one horn 

 springing from the centre of the forehead, that scepticism was 

 almost silenced by the variety and quantity of evidence. The 

 zeal of Mr. Hodgson for the advancement of knowledge, and 



which 



