1840.] Journal of a trip through Kunawur, fyc. 499 



which he carries at his waist, proceeded with expedition to strip off 

 the wool, singing all the time, and joking with his comrades, who were 

 likewise busily engaged around him. In a very short time the whole 

 of the flock, save a few thin sheep, were sheared, and the wool being 

 twisted into bundles, was carried up to the fort, to which also the next 

 morning the sheep were driven, when having each received a load of 

 from ten to twenty seers, they descended and took the road back to 

 Choomoortee. 



Soon after we had encamped, a scuffle took place between these 

 shepherds and my Tartar guide from Leeo, and the latter at last came 

 into camp with a fine fat looking sheep. I was at first inclined to look 

 upon this as a daring highway robbery, but it soon appeared that in 

 the previous year the guide had advanced the sum of five rupees to 

 these shepherds for pushmeena wool, which they were to bring down 

 for him, when they descended to the Rampore fair. This wool had 

 been supplied in part only, and two rupees were consequently still due, 

 for which the Tartar fearing lest he should be cheated, had seized the 

 sheep in question. As the animal" however with its fleece was worth 

 more than double the sum required, the shepherds came and entered 

 into an explanation, which seemed satisfactory to both parties, as the 

 animal was restored. I laughed at the guide for being so easily paci- 

 fied, and told him he would never get his money or his wool, but 

 he replied quite confidently, that the shepherds had pledged their 

 word, and therefore there was no fear, as a Chinese Tartar never broke 

 his promise. 



With the wool on these sheep are remarkably handsome animals, 

 and have somewhat the appearance of the large English breeds, but 

 when shorn, they present such a different picture with their long thin 

 limbs and narrow carcase, that one would not know them to be the 

 same animals. 



They differ much, also, from the breeds of the lower hills ; standing 

 higher on their legs, and the horns wanting that solidity and strength 

 which those of Kunawur possess. There is generally a black longitudi- 

 nal stripe down the middle of the horn. I was anxious to purchase one 

 or two of this breed, but the people very honestly assured me that they 

 would not live below, on account of the dampness of the climate. 



Most of these sheep were formerly purchased by the British Go- 

 vernment by an agent appointed for that purpose at Kotgurh, but 



