14 BHOTIA MEHALS 



The horses in use here, are small stout ponies of Tartar breed, called 

 " Gunts:'" these animals are remarkably sure-footed, and consequently, 

 well adapted for the rocky and precipitous roads of the hills ; they have 

 the further merit of not requiring shoes, and are invariably ridden unshod. 

 The price has, of late years, been much enhanced by the demand of 

 European gentlemen; a poney of good qualifications not being procurable 

 for less than from sixty to one hundred rupees, near treble the former rates. 



Dogs are of two species, the Tibet, a large animal with a shaggy 

 coat, kept for guarding sheep against the depredations of wild beasts : and, 

 the Hill Shikari, or hunting dog, which does not differ in appearance from 

 the common pariah dog of the plains, but is valuable from his qualifications 

 for the chase. They are commonly used singly, or at most in pairs, and 

 from their perseverance and goodness of nose, are generally successful in 

 their pursuit of game. The deer, when raised, is driven by them down 

 into the glen, where a part of the hunters lie in wait, armed with spears 

 or matchlocks. The Bhotias are particularly fond of this sport, and pay 

 comparatively large prices for dogs of good character. To improve the 

 breed, they sometimes cross the Shikari dog with the " Boivnsa or Koya" 

 (wild dog) caught young and reared with that view This animal cannot 

 be made available for hunting, as it seizes indiscriminately on every 

 animal, whether wild or domestic, which comes in view. 



Dogs of the Tibet breed are subject to hydrophobia : the treatment 

 employed by the Bhotias in cases of bites from animals in that state is 

 simple, and said to be generally efficacious : the part bitten is immediately 

 subjected to the operation of burning, either by Guls, or by a red hot 

 iron, and a ligature is at the same time tied above the wound. For the 

 space of fifteen days, the patient is debarred from the use of salt, spices, 

 and heating food, and for the same period is daily magnetised by some 



skilful 



