OF KAMAON. 15 



skilful adept. The efficacy of the treatment depends on the actual cautery. 

 The magnetism is not likely to be of much use. Of the success of this 

 system of treatment, an instance fell under my own observation, in which 

 not a shadowof doubt could exist of the rabidness of the animal by which 

 the bite was inflicted. 



The wild animals peculiar to Bitot are — 



The " Barji" or tawny bear, said to be white in winter. This 

 animal exceeds the common black species in size, and is carniverous. 

 " Bharel" wild sheep, found only in the loftiest parts of the Himalaya, 

 its size is that of the hill ram, color grey, with black points, hair thick 

 and wiry, horns remarkably large and heavy, but curled as in the com- 

 mon ram. Vulgar fame represents this animal as falling, ultimately, a 

 victim to the weight of his horns, being rendered thereby incapable of 

 moving. " Kasturi," musk deer, requires no description : it abounds along 

 the base of the Himalaya, where it is in a great measure secured from the 

 pursuit of hunters by the difficulties of the country; but for this circum- 

 stance, the value of its produce would, probably, have long since led to its 

 extermination. The quantity and quality of the musk, are supposed to 

 depend on the animal not being wounded, previous to the excision of the 

 bag. Recourse is, consequently, very rarely had to fire arms for its destruc- 

 tion. Pit-falls and snares are the means commonly resorted to for this 

 purpose. In the latter mode, a fence of thick bushes is carried along the 

 face of the mountain, a few small openings being left at distant intervals : 

 in these are set the snares, and the animals are caught when descending 

 at night to feed. A few are occasionally run down by dogs. Musk sells 

 on the spot at from eight to twelve rupees the Tola. The number of deer 

 killed in a season seldom, probably, amounts to a hundred, though, from 

 the impositions practised in the sale of this article, full double that number 



of 



