382 
THE STORY OF THE WILD GOAT. 
it is subjected, it exists in vast numbers. O'n the Kuh-i-barf, a not very lofty 
or extensive hill, constantly shot over, near Shiraz, I once counted over a 
hundred in a herd, which had been driven together by two days’ consecutive 
fusillade. It is marvelously shy and wary. In my earlier residence in Persia 
I spent many a weary day after them, but never managed to bag' a buck. Even 
native sportsmen, though admirable shots and thoroughly familiar with 
every nook and cranny of the hills, rarely get one by fair stalking; most of 
those killed being obtained by building a wall of loose stones near water and 
shooting the goats when drinking. The males drink in the morning and 
evening only, but the females, in hot weather, at least, drink also at midday. 
Sixty miles north of Shiraz I came suddenly upon a herd of twenty or more 
does and kids, drinking by the roadside, a couple of hundred yards from the 
foot of the hills. Except when alarmed, bucks and does seem, to keep apart. 
In Baluchistan these goats inhabit barren rocky hills, but in parts of Asia 
Minor they are found on forest-clad uplands. In such localities they may 
often be found within hearing of the drovers on the roads, or even of the 
railways; but this confidence is accompanied by exceeding watchfulness. The 
number in a flock in these districts is generally from four to ten, and at the 
time of my observations bucks and does were found together. Sentinels are 
almost always posted to' warn the flock, these being relieved at short intervals; 
and it appears that this sentry-duty is undertaken according to seniority, the 
youngest animals commencing first, and the oldest buck taking his turn last. 
In Asia Minor pasang are hunted both by driving and by stalking; but they 
are so cunning that the former method is not generally very successful. The 
Cabulis hunt them on the lower ground of Afghanistan with greyhounds. 
The bezoar-stone, so; highly esteemed in Persia as an antidote to poison 
and a remedy for several diseases, is a concretion found in the stomach of the 
pasang, from whence it derives its old European name of Pazen, on Pasen. 
The wild goats of the Isle of Giura are probably derived from a domestic 
race, perhaps crossed with the pasang. Goats have also' run wild in many 
other places, more especially mountainous islands like St. Helena, Tavolara 
near Sardinia, and Juan Fernandez. In St. Helena these wild goats have 
completely destroyed a large portion of the native flora, and this has resulted 
in the disappearance of much of the fauna. Goats were introduced by the 
Spaniards into Juan Fernandez in the year 1563. These soon, increased 
enormously, and in order to diminish their numbers dogs were subsequently 
let loose, and likewise ran wild. 
