144 Rough Notes on the Zoology of Candahar. [No. 170. 



of the Persian physicians, also Gowzen ; vide Cuvier's ' Synopsis Mam- 

 malium.') 



No. 34. To the Horses I paid no attention, but believe there is no 

 good breed proper to Afghanistan, or at least not in the neighbourhood 

 of Candahar ; all coming from other countries, as Herat, Toorkistan, &c. 



No. 35. Asses are as common at Candahar as elsewhere, and do not 

 differ from their brethren of other more civilised countries ; they are 

 used as beasts of burthen, and have no more mercy shown to them than 

 elsewhere. 



Of the many notices I have seen of the habits of this animal, one of the most 

 interesting is that given by Lieut. Wood. " The Yak," he remarks, " is to the inha- 

 bitants of Thibet, and Pamir, what the Rein-deer is to the Laplander of Northern 

 Europe. Like the Elephant, he possesses a wonderful knowledge of what will bear 

 his weight. If travellers are at fault, one of these animals is driven before them, 

 and it is said, that he avoids the hidden depths and chasms with admirable sagacity. 

 His footing is sure. Should a fall of snow close a mountain pass to man and horse, a 

 score of yaks driven ahead answer the purpose of pioneers, and make, as my informant 

 expressed it, a ' king's highway.' In this case, however, the snow must have recent- 

 ly fallen, for when its surface is frozen over and its depth considerable, no animal can 

 force its way through it. Other cattle require the provident care of man to subsist 

 them through the winter; but the Kash-gow is left entirely to itself. He frequents 

 the mountain slopes and their level summits. Wherever the mercury does not rise 

 above zero, is a climate for the yak. If the snow on the elevated flats lies too deep 

 for him to cross the herbage, he rolls himself down the slopes, and eats his way up 

 again. When arrived at the top he performs a second somerset, and completes his 

 meal as he displays another groove of snow in his second ascent. The heat of summer 

 sends this animal to what is termed the old ice, that is to the regions of eternal snow; 

 the calf being retained below as a pledge for the mother returning, in which she never 

 fails.* * * The Kashgows are gregarious, and set the wolves, which here abound, 

 at defiance. Their hair is dipt once a year in the spring. The tail is the well 

 known chowry of Hindoostan; but in this country, its strong, wiry, and pliant hair, 

 is made into ropes, which, for strength, do not yield to those manufactured from hemp. 

 The hair of the body is woven into mats, and also into a strong fabric, which makes 

 excellent riding trowsers. The milk of the yak is richer than that of the common cow, 

 though the quantity it yields is less." 



It is a very prevalent opinion, that the Yak has never yet been taken alive to Europe. 

 But Captain Turner long ago stated, — " I had the satisfaction to send two of this 

 species to Mr. Warren Hastings, after he left India, and to hear that one reached 

 England alive. This, which was a bull, remained for some time after he landed in a 

 torpid and languid state, till his constitution had in some degree assimilated to the 

 climate, [or had got over the effects of the long voyage,] when he recovered at once, 

 both in health and vigour : he afterwards became the sire of many calves, which all 

 died without reproducing, except one, — a cow, which bore a calf by an Indian bull. 

 Though naturally not intractable in temper, yet soured by the impatient and inju- 

 dicious treatment of his attendants, during a long voyage, it soon became dangerous to 

 suffer this bull to range at liberty abroad, for which reason, after destroying a valuable 

 horse, he was finally secured alone."— Cur. As, Soc. 



