30 
THE ZEBU. 
large head and high forehead, which, with its asinine ears and 
tail, render it one of the least handsome of- the whole of the 
antelope species. Its pace, when at full speed, appears like a 
heavy gallop, 'but, nevertheless, it runs as fast as any of the larger 
antelopes. When pursued, and well ahead of pursuers, it is 
apt to turn round and gaze at them. Like the nyl-ghau and 
wood antelope, it drops on its knees to fight. As an article of 
food it is agreeable in flavor, though rather dry. 
THE ZEBU. 
'his quadruped is a haunched ox, and is the ordinary domes- 
tic animal throughout India, Persia, Arabia, and in Africa 
from the Atlas to the Cape of Good Hope. The Zebu 
varies in size and color, and some of the species are without horns. 
Its general color is of a pale grey, or white; and between the 
shoulders there is a fleshy hump, which varies in weight, ranging 
from forty to fifty pounds. There are numerous varieties of this 
animal, ranging in size from a large mastiff dog to that of a full 
grown buffalo. The zebu, in the countries above stated, supplies 
the place of the ox, both as an article of food and a beast of 
burden. In parts of India it also performs the duties of a horse 
— being either saddled and ridden, or yoked to a vehicle ; they 
make long journeys with considerable celerity, and it is stated by 
travellers that they can accomplish from twenty to thirty miles 
in a day. The zebu is held in high veneration by the Hindoos, 
who consider it a sacred animal, and, consequently, look upon its 
slaughter, and the eating of its flesh, as an act of impiety and 
