CASHMERE, THIBET, OR SHAWL GOAT.—This variety of the domestic goat is considerably larger than the Angora kind. Like the latter, its coat is composed of two materials, but it is the under growth that here forms the commercial article. It is beautifully soft, silky, and down-like, and of a pretty uniform greyish-white tint. Its removal is effected by clipping and combing, the process occupying 8-10 days. The quantity obtained seldom exceeds i lb. It is sold by the turruk (of 12 lb.). The overhair is of various colours, lengths, and qualities. There are several modifications of this breed, and they are widely distributed in Asia. The best are produced in Cashmere, Thibet, Mongolia, and the Himalayas. Those of the billy tracts of Khorassan yield a fine soft hair, generally of a more or less intense brown shade, while the long overhair is usually jet-black. The best are said to be among the Hazaree and Timunee tribes. Two fleeces are afforded annually : the that grows during winter, and is shorn in spring ; the second appears in summer, and is gathered in autumn. The latter is the finer and more esteemed. White fleeces are rare. The winter fleece is shorn of with the overhair, and is cleansed for making shawls, while the overlpir is converted into grain-bags, tent-covers, and ropes The autumn fleece is only taken from dead animals. The skius are rubbed with a preparation of lime and potash, and left for 2-3 days ; the overhair is then easily palled out, and the undercoat is subsequently removed separately. This is dearer than the winter fleece.
Turkestan goat-hair is sent in considerable quantities to Amritsur, in the Punjab. The best quality is procnred in the immediate vicinity of Bokhara, and in the N.E. districts of that kingdom. It is used in combination with Thibetan hair for making Cashmere shawls. The white is most valuable ; light-brown is the predominating hue ; black and ashy-grey are packed separately. The hair is shed by the animals in summer ; sometimes it is shorn ; but most of it is taken from dead animals. Cabal hair is generally darker than that from Turkestan, and is shorter in staple. It is ehiefly obtained from the hill country to the W. of Cahul, and between that
city and Herat. Its value is only half that of the Bokharan. Considerable supplies are afforded by the }Kirghiz Steppes and W. Thihet, whence the hair is taken to Rodokh. Another large portion is carried to Leh. The goats are very common in the provinces of Ladakh, Rodokh, Garoo, and the Chanthan plateaux. It is the produce of these goats which is chiefly converted into shawls in the Punjab towns. The very superior quality grown in Turfan Kechar is taken through Yarkand to Cashmere, and there manufactured. Closely allied breeds of the Cashmere goat are common in the countries west and south of the Caspian. The shawls of Kerman, in Persia, are hut little inferior to those of Cashmere ; and much of the hair produced in that country is carried to Amritsur, for the manufacture of so-called Cashmere shawls. The Persian and Armenian hair is also largely manufactured into Persian carpets. Attempts to naturalize the animal in France and England have been complete commercial failures. Some French experiments in crossing the Cashmere and Angora goats gave promise of an increased and improved fleece, but the unsuitable climate of France would doubtless soon cause deterioration.
CosaloN Goers.—The common domestic goat is found in most countries of Europe, in Morocco, Algeria, India, the United States, and the Argentine Republic. Recent statistics give :—Spain and Portugal, 6 million ; Greece, 2t; France, if ; Germany, lf ; Italy, If ; Russia, 1}; Austro Hungary, 11; United Kingdom, 1; British. India, 0 ; Morocco, 12 ; Algeria, 3 ; United States, 21; Argentine Republics, 11. In all these countries, the hair, which varies much in colour, length, and quality, is industrially employed. In England, it is largely used for low-class carpetings. Mogador, in 1878, exported 22 cwt., value 351., to France ; and Tangier, in the same year, shipped 238 cwt., value 4281. (including horse-hair), also to France. Shanghae, in 1878, exported 62731 piculs (of 1331 lb.). The skins of common goats are of more importance than the hair (see Skins).