YAJNAVALKYA is the reputed author of the S'atapatha-Brdhman'a (See Pajurveda, under VEDA), and of a Dharmastastra, or law-book (see SANSKRIT LITERATURE, see. lair). His name points to his being a descendant of Yajnavalka, and, according to tra dition, lie was also a descendant of Fiswimitra (q.v.), and belonged to a branch of the Kus ikas. He seems to have occupied an influential position at the court of king Jan aka of Videha. Nothing certain, however, is as yet known regarding the age at which he lived.
YAK, Bos grunniens, a species of ox found in Tibet, and domesticated there. It is ranked by col. Hamilton Smith in the genus bison, aloft with the bison, gaur, and gayal, and by Mr. Gray in the new genus poephagus. The wild yak of central Asia is the largest native animal ofiTibet, and is found only near the limits of perpetual snow, descending into the higher wooded valleys in winter, and ascending in summer to the pastures of short grass and writes, some of which are at an elevation of 17,000 ft. above the sea. It is hunted by large dogs, and is very fierce, falling upon an adversary not only with its horns but with its chest, and crushing him by its weight. It is generally black. The yak has been domesticated from time immemorial, and forms great part of the wealth of the inhabitants of the highest and coldest regions of central Asia. The domesticated* yak is about the height of an English ox, which it much resembles also in figure of body, head, and legs. It is covered all over, however, with a thick coat of long silky hair, hanging down like the fleece of a sheep. The head is rather short; the eyes large and beautiful; the horns not very large, spreading, tapering from the base, a little turned back at the tips, a space between them on the forehead covered with a mass of curling hair; the nose is smooth and convex, the nostrils small. The neck is short; the withers high and inched; the rump is low ; the legs are short. Over the shoulders there appears a bunch somewhat like that of the zebu, but it consists only of long hair. The hair of the whole ridge of the back is long and erect, but not harsh. The tail is covered with a prodigious quantity of long flowing hair, descendino. to the hock, and has much the ap pearance of a large bunch of hair artificially attached. Not a joint of it is visible. From the chest, between the fore-legs, issues a large pointed tuft of long hair. The hair of the shoulders, rump, and upper parts of the body, is comparatively thick and short; but that of the lower parts is long and straight, hanging below the knee, and sometimes even. to the ground. Yaks exhibit great variety of colors; but black and white are the most prevalent. It is not uncommon to see the long hair on the ridge of the back, the tail,
the tuft on the chest, and the legs below the knee white, while all the rest is jet black. The great quantity of hair, evidently a protection against the cold of the climate for which it is destined, gives the yak an apparent size far beyond the reality.
The yak does not low like an ox, but utters a short grunting sound like a pig, as the expression either of uneasiness or of satisfaction.
It delights in steep and rocky places. Hooker, in his Himalayan Journal, describes the calves as " the drollest of animals, like ass-colts in their antics, kicking up their short hind-legs, whisking their bushy tails in the air, rushing up and down the grassy slopes, and climbing like cats to the top of the rocks." The yak is capable of becoming very tame. The Tibetan girl calls the yak cow by a peculiar cry to be milked.
The milk of the yak is very rich, and the curd made of it is much used by the Tibe tans, both fresh and dried, often powdered into a kind of meal. The butter made from yak-milk is excellent, and is preserved for a long time in the dry and cold climate of Tibet in bladders. It is an important article of 'Tibetan commerce. The flesh of the yak is of the finest quality; that of the calves is much superior to ordinary veal. Yak flesh is often dried in the sun by the Tibetans, and eaten raw. The yak is never used for till age or draught, but is very much employed as a beast of burden, and travels at a slow pace 20 in. a day, where no other beast of burden could well be employed. The lazy and luxurious lamas of Tibet often ride upon it, an attendant leading the animal. The hair is spun into ropes, and made into coverings for tents. The soft fur on the hump and shoulders is made into a fine and strong cloth. Caps, jackets, cloaks, and blankets are made of the skin with the hair on. The tails are the chateries, or fly-flappers, used in all parts of India, and which are to be seen particularly on all occasions of state and parade, and sometimes in the bands of the meanest of grooms, sometimes of the highest officers of state.
There is much reason to think that the yak deserves a degree of attention which it has not yet received. It is still confined to its native region, whereas it is probably adapted to increase the productiveness and wealth of many parts of the world. It seems extremely suitable to Norway, Iceland, and other northern countries, and perhaps might be advantageously introduced into the highlands of Scotland. Its hair is probably fit for other textile purposes than those to which it has been applied by the rude Tibe tans.