337 
Dr Traill’s Account of the Gour of India. 
vow valleys, the verdant banks of which are the favourite haunts 
of gours. On being disturbed, they retreat into the thick jungles 
of said-trees * *, which cover the sides of the whole range. The 
SE. side of the mountain presents an extensive mural preci- 
pice, from 20 to 40 feet high. The rugged slopes at its foot 
are covered by impenetrable green jungle, and abound with 
dens, formed of fallen blocks of rock, the suitable retreats of 
tigers, bears, and hyaenas. The western slopes are less rug- 
ged ; but the soil is parched, and the forests seem withered by 
excess of heat. The summit of the mountain presents a mix- 
ture of open lawns and woods. There were once 25 villages on 
Myn Pcit ; but these have been long deserted, on account of the 
number and ferocity of the beasts of prey. On this mountain, 
however, the gour maintains his seat. The Indians assert, that 
even the tiger has no chance in combat with the full grown gour, 
though he may occasionally succeed in carrying off an unprotected 
calf. I he wild buffalo abounds in the plains below the mountain ; 
Out he so much dreads the gour, according to the natives, that 
he rarely attempts to invade its haunts ; and the hunting party 
only met with three or four urnas on the mountain. The fo- 
rests which shield the gour abound, however, with hog~deer f , 
saumurs jy and porcupines §. 
According to the Indian mode of hunting, the jungles were 
beaten by numerous parties of natives, and the European sports, 
men, well armed with rifles, took their stations in places where 
the roused up game were likely to pass. Several gours were 
shot. One, struck by Captain Rogers and his companion, 
“ n,ade for t,le j un g le > was pursued, and fell, after receiving 
Slx or sevcn balls.; Another, when wounded, turned on his 
assailant, shook his head in token of defiance, and was fortunate- 
y shot dead, by a large rifle ball, which penetrated the brain 
as he was rushing forward to attack the adventurous hunter. 
, ‘ f ?™T f ° reSt -* rCe 0f this °f Mia, which is used in building, „„ 
account of the durability of its reddish-coloured wood. 
*J* Cervus porcinus. 
Cervus Elephas, of a large size. 
§ IJistrix crist at a . 
VOL. XT. NO. 22. OCT. 1824. 
Its Sanscrit name is Sambur . 
Y 
