PHEASANT. 183 



the existence of poultry on their premises ; and it is said, that their 

 detestation is such, that an Hindoo would sooner forfeit his life, than 

 wear a Fowl's feather. Poultry, therefore, can only be obtained 

 among the Mussulmans.* We learn also from Mr. Salt, that in the Bay 

 of Ampila, in Abyssinia, Danakil, as well as the Adaiel, and Somauli, 

 entertain a particular prejudice against common Fowls, the flesh ot 

 which is held among them in abhorrence; this may perhaps lead to 

 the idea of these tribes being sprung from an Egyptian origin.f 



A fine specimen in the collection of Mr. Harrison, was brought from 

 the northern Circars of India ; and this is, most probably, the original 

 stock, from whence all our Domestic Varieties have sprung. Indeed, 

 there are few places in which the different voyagers have not met with 

 Cocks and Hens, either wild or tame, as Pulo Condore,J Isle of 

 Timor, the Philippine and Molucca Isles, Sumatra and Java, New 

 Guinea, || Tinian,§ the Pellew Islands,^ and most of those in the 

 South Seas,** but neither at New-Holland, nor New-Zealand. 



* Oriental Field Sports, i. p. 7. & 285. f Voyage to Abyssinia, p. 179. 



J Like ours, bat much less ; only the size of a Crow. The Cocks crow like ours, but 

 much weaker and more shrill. — Damp. Voy. i. 392. Two wild ones shot there by our last 

 voyagers. — Ell. Narr. ii. 340. A wild hen shot at Condore, by one of the gentlemen on 

 board the Discovery, of a speckled colour, but less than ours in Europe; and the crowing 

 of Cocks not only heard on all sides, but several seen on the wing. — Cook's last Voy. iii. 463. 



|| But not in plenty. Talking of marriage, it is mentioned, " that they kill a Cock, 

 which is procured with difficult}'-, and then it is a marriage."— Forr. Voy. 105. 



§ The Fowls which we met with wild " were run down without much trouble, as they 

 could scarcely fly farther than 100 yards at a flight."— Anson's Voy. 416. 



51 In plenty at the Pellew Islands, but wild in the woods, and not used for food till 

 pointed out by the crew, though the natives were fond of the eggs.— Keate's Ace. p. 300. 



** Forster observes, that they are in plenty at Easter, the Society, and the Friendly 

 Isles ; at the two last of a prodigious size. Not uncommon at the Marquesas, Hebrides, 

 and New Caledonia, but the low Isles quite destitute of them. — See Obs. p. 195. Both 

 Poultry and Ducks numerous in the Sandwich Isles. — Cook's Journ. 229. Fowls of a large 

 breed found at Tongo taboo, supposed to have sprung from some left in 1773, and others 

 got from Feejee.— Cook's last Voy. i. 333. 



