106 - TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
there to fay, that the animal producing thefe large horns 
,was a carnivorous bull of a prodigious fize, inhabiting the 
_ interior parts of Africa. That no illuftration of this kind 
may be wanting, a copperplate of this curious bull is, I 
think, in fome of the firft volumes of the Philofophical 
Tranfactions. The origin of the tale is believed to be in 
Bernier or Thevenot. It may, however, with great cer- 
tainty, be relied upon, that no fuch animal exifts in Africa, 
nor probably in the whole creation. The animal furnifh- 
ing thofe monftrous horns is a cow or bull, which would 
be reckoned of a middling fize in England; its head and 
neck are larger and thicker in proportion, but not very 
remarkably fo. I have been told this animal was firft 
brought by the Galla from near the Line, where it rains 
continually, and the fun is little feen. This extraordinary 
fize of its horns proceeds from a difeafe that the cattle 
have in thofe countries, of which they die, and is probably ~ 
derived from their pafture and climate. © 
Wuenever the animal fhews fymptoms of this diforder, 
he is fet apart in the very beft and quieteft grazing-place, 
and never driven nor molefted from that moment. His va- 
lue lies then in his horns, for his body becomes emaciated 
and lank in proportion as the horns grow large. At the 
Jaft period of his life the weight of his head is fo great that 
he is unable to lift it up, or at leaft for any fpace of time. 
The joints of his neck become callous at laft, fo that it is 
not any longer in his power to hft his head. In this fitua- 
tion he dies, with fearcely flefh covering his bones, and it is 
then the horns are of the greateft fize and value. I have 
feen horns that would contain as much as a common-fized 
iron-hooped water-pale, fuch as they make ufe of in the 
| d houfes 
