Indian Antiquary Vol 14

SR No.: 032506
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 321

OCTOBER, 1885.)
ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF INDIA.
285
Regarding the astragulus, or huckle-bone, (marrow P) in the horse's fore-leg so is there the statement of its absence in solid-hoofed in that of the Rhinoceros." animals is incorrect, and I can offer no expla- | Having thus offered an explanation of what nation of the reputed characteristics of that of has hitherto been a difficulty to commentators, the horned wild ass, except that an example I should not be surprised if evidence should seen by Ktôsias had simply been dyed and be forthcoming to prove that it has been the weighted with lead. For short distances the custom with the natives to adorn with coloured rhinoceros can charge with great speed and pigments the cuirass-like hides of tame rhiforce, and its voice is such as to merit to some noceroses. extent the description by Megasthenês.
Since the above paragraph was written, I In reference to the colours of the animal, have obtained sufficient confirmation of the when I recall that I have often seen in India correctness of this view, for, on referring to horses with tails and manes of a bright ma- Ronsslet's work on the Native Courts of genta, and with spots of the same colour all
India," I find an account of a rhinoceros over their otherwise white bodies; that I have fight at Baroda, wbich took place before the also seen elephants belonging to Rajas orna
Gåekwâr. The two animals were chained at mented on their heads by the application of
opposite sides of the arena-one of them was various pigments-I am led to conclude that
painted black, the other red, in order that they the rhinoceros from which Ktêsias's description
might be distinguished, for otherwise they was taken was a domesticated one, which, in
resembled each other in every point. accordance with the natives' taste for bright
Ktêsias' horned ass, therefore, had probably colours, had been painted to take part in some
been whitewashed, and had had his horn pageant. Domesticated rhinoceroses are still
painted blue and scarlet by his owner-who kept by many natives; and they have, I
little foresaw what food for discussion and believe, sometimes been trained like elephants
comment he was affording, by that simple act, to carry haudds with riders in them. I once
to twenty centuries of philosophers and histomet a native dealer in animals who had taken
rians. with him, for several hundred miles through
12. WILD HORSES AND Asses the jungles, a rhinoceros, which he ultimately
("ITTO kal ovou dyploi). sold to the Râjâ of Jaipur, in Madras. He Equus onager, Pallas-Wild Ass of drove the animal before him, he told me, "as
Kachh, sc. if it were a cow."
According to Alian" there are herds of The horn of the rhinoceros is still held in wild horses and also of wild asses. "These luuch esteem by the natives of India, both for interbreed, and the mules are of a reddish making into cups, which are supposed to sweat colour and very fleet, but impatient of the yoke on the approach of poison, and for the prepara- and very skittish. They say that they catch tion of a drug. They will pay sportsmen & these mules with foot-traps and then take them high price for these horns, but are particular to the king of the Prasians, and that if they about obtaining the right article, as I learned are caught when two years old they do not from a gentleman who, as a speculation, brought refase to be broken in, but if caught when A number of rhinoceros horns from Africa, beyond that age they differ in no respect from but failed to dispose of them in the Calcutta sharp-toothed and carnivorous animals." bázárs.
The mention of both horses and asses is An interesting account of the Rhinoceros, no doubt due to the somewhat mule-like which in his time inhabited the valley of the characters of the wild ass which is found in Indus, is given by BAbar in his Memoirs. Among Western India, and is called gorkhar in Hinother things he says, “As the horse has a large dustani and gor by the Persiang. A closely stomach so has this: as the pastern of the horse allied species is the kiang of Tibet : (E. hemoiis composed of a single bone so also is that nus, Pallas). Even now by travellers they of the Rhinoceros: as there is a gumek are sometimes spoken of as wild horses, but L'Inde des Rajah.
Hist. Anim., xvi. 9. Cf. Megasthonda, by J. W. M'Crindle, p. 163.