282 Capt. Pemberton's Mission to Bootan, 1837-38. [April, 



of the Mishmees, or the animal so known in those parts to the 

 Assamese by that name, but is very different from the Mithun 

 of the JMeekir hills. This animal is not uncommon : the finest we saw 

 were at Dewangiri, and none were seen after leaving Tongsa. Nothing 

 can exceed the appearance of a fine bull ; it appears to me intermediate 

 between the buffaloe and the English bull, but the cows have much 

 less of the heavy appearance so characteristic of the buffaloe. Their 

 temper is remarkably fine, and their voices or lowing very peculiar, 

 resembling a good deal some of the cries of the elephant. I am 

 not aware that they are of much use to the natives : the oxen are 

 employed at the plough. As the Booteas do not seem to care for milk, 

 they are probably kept with a view to sacrifice, which is with an 

 Asiatic not unfrequently another word for feasting. 



The other breed which they possess, and which we only saw 

 between Punukka and the Plains, assimilates much to the common 

 cattle of Bengal ; it is however a much larger and a much finer animal. 



Sheep are not very common : the most we saw were rams, which 

 formed a standing part of the russut. The ewes are used by the 

 Kampas as beasts of burden, but I am not aware that they are of any 

 use to the Booteas. Throughout Bootan I only saw two flocks. 



Goats are common enough, and appear to be of the ordinary Plain 

 breed. We saw no Khussies, at least live ones, unless I except the six 

 shawl goats sent by the former Deb as presents to the Governor 

 General. 



All these animals are turned out during the day, either alone, or at- 

 tended by boys. The cattle are picketted at night either in yards or 

 about the villages: the goats find their own quarters in the ground floors 

 of their owner's houses. Either no fodder at all is given, or they are 

 provided with coarse straw, which evidently requires great effort to 

 be eaten. During the rains their condition is much bettered ; in the 

 cold weather it is bad enough, as the looks of the beasts testify. 



Pigs of ordinary customs are common enough, and were the only 

 animals I saw slaughtered : they are kept with more care than 

 either ponies or cows. They are generally treated to a wash once a 

 day, consisting of a decoction of herbs, of which the common stinging 

 nettle appears to be a favourite, and radish peelings. Most of the pigs 

 we saw engrossed the tender cares of the women, who certainly paid 

 much more attention to them than they would appear to do to their 

 own children. They have peculiar cries well known by the pigs, who 

 are generally very obedient, particularly if they see the wash-tub ; at 

 night they also occupy the ground floors. The ponies of Bootan are 

 sufficiently well known, and are I think much over-estimated. They 



