188 
BOOTAN. 
extremely useful as beasts of burden; for they are strong, sure footed, 
and carry a great weight. Tents_and ropes are manufactured of their 
hair, and amongst the humbler ranks of herdsmen, I have seen caps 
and jackets made of their skins. Their tails are esteemed throughout 
the East, as far as luxury or parade have any influence on the manners 
of the people; and on the continent of India they are found, under the 
denomination of Chowries, in the hands of the meanest grooms, as well 
as occasionally in those of the first minister of state. They are in uni¬ 
versal use for driving away winged insects, flies and musquitoes, and 
/ 
are employed as ornamental furniture upon horses and elephants: yet 
the best requital, wflth which the care of their keepers is at length 
rewarded, for selecting them good pastures, is in the abundant quantity 
of rich milk which they give, and the butter produced from it, which 
is most excellent. It is their custom to preserve this in skins, or blad¬ 
ders; and the air being thus excluded from it, it will keep in this cold 
climate throughout the year; so that, after some time tending their 
herds, when a sufficient store is accumulated, it remains only to load 
their cattle, and drive them to a proper market with their own produce, 
which constitutes, to the utmost verge of Tartary, a most material 
article of merchandise. 
» 
I had the satisfaction to send two of this species to Mr. Hastings 
after he left India, and to hear that one reached England alive. This, 
which was a bull, remained for some time after he landed in a torpid 
languid state, till his constitution had in some degree assimilated with 
the climate, when he recovered at once both his health and vigour. 
He afterwards became the father of many calves, which all died 
