MYSORE, CANARA, AND MALABAR. 
121 
not interfere with the pasture of the sheep ; as the Maycay lives CHAPTER 
entirely on the leaves of bushes and trees, while the sheep eat only 
the grass. They require the same quantity of water. One male is May 20, &c. 
kept for twenty females. Of those not wanted for breeding, the 
shepherd sacrifices some for his own use while they are young ;*the 
remainder he castrates and sells to the butcher. The female breeds 
at two years of age, without observing any regular season ; and 
once a-year produces sometimes one kid, sometimes twins. They 
breed about four times ; after which they are generally killed by 
the shepherds for their own use. For three months the kid is 
— » 
allowed the whole milk ; afterwards the mother is milked once a 
day for two months ; and eight goats will give a quart of milk. A 
castrated Maycay sells fora Rupee and a half, or 3s. 3d. Some, that 
are very large, are ornamented with silver chains and bells, and 
serve for the children of the rich to ride on. 
Swine were once very common; but Tippoo succeeded in ba- Swine, 
nishing them from the immediate neighbourhood of his capital. 
Very few have as yet been brought back; but they will soon be 
numerous, as their flesh is sought after by many of the farmers. 
The lard is extracted, and used for strengthening carriage bullocks. 
A Seer given to an ox, when he is two years old, and repeated 
yearly, is said to make him grow very fat and strong. It is given 
mixed with the porridge of Ragy ; but is so nauseous to the animal, 
that it requires to be crammed down his throat. It appears to me 
very improbable that any good should arise from such a practice; 
but among the natives it is in frequent use. 
The native breed of horses here, as in most parts of India, is a Horses, 
small, ill-shaped, vicious poney ; though considerable pains were 
taken by Hyder and Tippoo to introduce a better kind. They had 
however very little success, and their cavalry was extremely ill 
mounted. The studs of brood mares kept by the Sultan have been 
dispersed, and most of them have fallen into the hands of the Amil- 
dars; each of whom has one or two mares for his own riding, and 
Vol. I. R 
