I 



102 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



at the diftance of a few yards, they made a fpring, and 

 darted againft each other with great force. 



The following anecdote will ferve to {hew, that, du- 

 ring the rutting feafon, thefe animals are fierce and vi- 

 cious, and not to be depended on : — A labouring man, 

 without knowing that the animal was near him, went up 

 to the outfide of the inclofure ; the Nyl-ghau, with the 

 quicknefs of lightning, darted againft the wood-work 

 with fuch violence, that he broke it to pieces, and broke 

 off one of his horns clofe to the root. The death of the 

 animal, which happened foon after, was fuppofed to be 

 owing to the injury he fuftained by the blow, 



Bernier fays, that it is the favourite amufement of the 

 Mogul emperor to hunt the Nyl-ghau j and that he kills 

 them in great numbers, and diftributes quarters of them 

 to his omrahs ; which fhews that they are efteemed good 

 and delicious food. ^ 



The Nyl-ghau is frequently brought from the interior 

 parts of Afia, as a rare and valuable prefent to the na- 

 bobs and other great men at our fettlements in India. 



It remains to be confidered, whether this rare animal 

 might not be propagated with fuccefs in this country. 

 That it will breed here, is evident from experience ; and, 

 if it mould prove docile enough to be eafily trained to la- 

 bour, its great fwiftnefs and confiderable ftrength might 

 be applied to the moft valuable purpofes. 



