168 



On the Statistics of Dukhun. 



[Jan. 



bricated as tiles on the roof of a house. The Dookur, or wild hog, Sus 

 scrofa, abounds : every viUage also has a number of tame hogs, which 

 are the public scavengers, but all property in them is abjured by the 

 inhabitants. The Dukhun is celebrated for a breed of fine horses with 

 a dash of the Arabian blood in them : the pony also is bred to a great ex- 

 tent to carry baggage. The Ass, Gudha, Equiis asinus, is not much 

 larger then a good -sized Newfoundland dog ; it is not met with in the 

 wild state. 



JRimhiantm.— The Dromedary, Oont, Camelns dromedarms, is rarely 

 bred in Dukhun, but is in general use: the two-humped camel is un- 

 known. Of the other Ruminants, the first is a beautiful little creature 

 called Peesoreh, Moschus memina ; the next is the Sambur, Cervus equi- 

 nus, of the size of a small cow ; the third is the Baikur, Cervus munt- 

 jaTc: all the above are inhabitants of dense woods. Of the antelopes 

 there are four species ; Bahmunee Harn, Antilope cervicapra ; Kalese- 

 pee, or black tail, a new species, Antilope Bennetti ; Antilope quadri- 

 cornis ; and finally, the Rooee, Antilope picla, or Nylgau: the two for- 

 mer are only found on the open plains ; the two latter prefer the woods, 

 but are sometimes seen on the plains. Goats, Bukree, Capra hircus^ 

 abound ; and sheep are so extensively bred in Dukhun, that flocks of 

 many thousands are constantly met with grazing on the uncultivated 

 lands : the wool is coarse and crisp; the price of a sheep is from two to 

 four shillings ; they afford excellent, although small mutton. The Pohl 

 is the Brahmany bull, with its remarkable hump. Bos taurusxav. IndicuSy 

 and is a noble animal ; when put into the yoke, or when employed in car- 

 rying loads, he is called Byhl, and he loses his hump and his fine appear- 

 ance. The cow does not yield much milk. Cattle are extensively bred, as 

 it is chiefly by their means the transit of merchandize is effected. The 

 female buffalo, Muhees, Bos huhalus, is highly valued for the quantity 

 of milk she gives. The male, called Tondgah, is used in the hilly tracts 

 in ploughing the muddy fields for rice. The above is the catalogue of 

 the Mammalia of Dukhun, and a few comments will suffice respecting 

 it. The musk-rat is a pest, from its infecting with its nauseous odour 

 everything with which it comes into contact, even a bottle of wine, al- 

 though corked. The bear is harmless. The wild-dog hunts in troops 

 in the woods, and runs down the fleetest of the ruminants. The wolves 

 sometimes attack women and children, but never men. The jackals are 

 in large troops, and do much damage in the vineyards. The fox is 

 mostly solitary or in pairs. The moongus is useful in destroying snakes. 

 The hyasna is cowardly, entirely nocturnal in his movements, and never 

 attacks live animals. The royal tiger and the leopard are formidable to 



