But we must conclude this desultory account of In dian botany, merely remarking, that when we come to treat of the agriculture of India, we shalt have occasion to notice some plants, which more properly fall under that head.
The native breed of horses in India is a small ill-shap ed vicious pony, in some parts not exceeding 30 inches in height, particularly on the confines of the Nepaulese ter ritories. Wild horses, of a hardy and useful breed, spotted in a singular manner, and with great variety of colour, are regularly brought from the banks of the Bontsu, in Ne paul, for sale, into Hindostan ; they are called tanyans. There are also a great many horses brought from Cande har and Tibet, and sold at the annual fairs of Hindostan. In some parts of the country itself, however, the breed of horses is good ; and as most of the Hindoo princes, as well as the British, are obliged to have numerous cavalry, con siderable attention, as may be supposed, has been paid to the improvement of this useful animal. In the Cho teesgur district of the province of Gundwana, brood mares of the tattoo species are kept in considerable numbers. This is the same species that is common in Bengal ; it is a thin ill-shaped animal. The horse commonly used by the Mahrattas in war, is also a poor looking animal, about 14 or 141 hands high, with large bones ; but in the Poonah Mahrattas, particularly near the Becmah river, there are excelent and beautiful horses, of a middle size, generally of a dark bay colour, with black legs, which are highly esteemed by the Mahrattas ; they are called Bcemarteddy horses, from the district where they are bred. In the pro vince of Aurungabad, also, great numbers are reared for the Mahratta cavalry. These, however, are neither strong nor handsome, though they are of a hardy breed. The Mahratta cavalry almost entirely consist of mares, In that part of the province of Bahar which lies near the Ne paulese territories, a great number of horses are bred for the British cavalry. It has been satisfactorily ascertained, that this animal degenerates in size, and in most of his useful qualities, in low and moist situations ; hence it is supposed, that the horses of Bengal are of such an inferior description and small size, some of them being no larger than mastiffs. In dry and moderately elevated situations,
on the contrary, they not only thrive well, and attain a good size, and are strong and active, but handsome, Since the British began to pay attention to the breeding of them in the northern parts of the province of Battu, many of the very first quality have been reared there, particularly in the districts of Tyrpoot and Hajypoor ; and they are in such request, that horse dealers from Upper Hindostan frequent the fairs at Hurdwar and other places to pur chase them. Farther to the north, however, where the country becomes very mountainous, the horses fall off in point of size ; but though nearly as small as those of Ben gal, they are much more handsome, active, and strung. The British have also frequently obtained horses from the middle districts of Guzerat and from Lahore : the latter are particularly excellent. Those from Guzerat consist principally of two breeds, from Cotti•ar and NVei rear ; the latter are small in size. They are exported to the ter ritories of the Rajah of Joudpoor.
In sonic parts of India the ass is a common and useful animal, particularly in Bengal, the Cat natic, and above the Chants. They are small in size, and are distinguished by the great variety of their colour. There are some entirely black ; and it is remarked of these, that there is no ap pearance of the cross on their shoulder. This animal scents regarded with various feelings in different parts of India. It is generally deemed au animal which none but the lower castes would ride on, or otherwise employ ; and yet in the Mysore, if a dispute arises in a village, one of the parties frequently terminates it by killing a jack-ass. By this, indeed, they both suffer; for no Hindoo would re main in the place where the ass was killed, and conse quently they are both obliged to fly. This singular mode of revenge, if so it can be called, is also had recourse to by the inhabitants of the Mysore, when they consider them selves aggrieved, oppressed, or affronted in any thing re lating to their caste by their rulers. The milk of the ass is never used. Herds of wild asses are sometimes seen near the mountains in the north of Hindostan.