 Reference Base  Indian recreations; consisting chiefly of strictures of t... |
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Tennant, W., 1803. Indian recreations; consisting chiefly of strictures of the domestic and rural economy of the Mahomedans & Hindoos. Edinburgh, C.Stewart, vol. 2
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Captive |
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Captivity |
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Indian Rhino |
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[410] March 15. [1799]—I this day went to view the Nawab's Menagerie, which consists of different birds and quadrupeds. In this collection, variety or usefulness has not been so much sought after, as the oddities of nature. Such a cabinet might be extremely useful, if models of machines for the improvement of hus- bandry or manufactures, or superior breeds of cattle for the purposes of agriculture, were collected for the inspection of the people; but no views of this kind seem to have actuated the Princes of Oude in the formation of their collection. Thk disferent specimens of clock-work are cu- rious and expensive, but by no means calculated to explain to the natives the principles of that useful machine. They are viewed here as elegant toys or play-things, which captivate by the surprise which is necessarily occasioned by seeing their effects; but I do not find that any native has yet attempted the construction of a watch or clock.
In the same apartments in which these machines are kept, there is a considerable number of mirrors and other toys, which, though useless here, must have cost an immense sum in bringing them from Europe. Some paintings are here shewn, both na- tive and European: the most striking of these is a portrait of Sujah Dowlah in the act of shooting a tiger, which had leaped upon the howdah of Colonel Harper, and was ready to carry him off. This en- gaging picture is hurt in the effect by being too small.
A considerable number of tigers are kept in different apartments near the palace, but so mean and nasty in their appearance that a considerable tax is laid upon your patience in going to view them. To their keepers the tigers are so tame, that they allow them to stroke them on the back, as a cat, and like that animal, seem gratified by your attention. The rhinoceros is the most remarkable animal in this collection; the only one here is about twelve years old, and seems not yet to have attained its full growth, being of a much less size than the species generally attains. His strength and ferocity are pro- digious: no elephant dares to attack him; for his horn proves at sirst stroke fatal: it is a large pro- tuberance growing exactly upon the snout, and sharpening into a point, and with it he can rip up the belly of the largest elephant.
The rhinoceros is protected by a thick horny substance, studded over like a shield; which from its hardness and thickness must protect the animal from any foe. A sword would make no impression upon this singular hide, and where it overlaps, it would probably repel a musket ball.
Of the sheep there is a great number, and some variety; but the Cabul breed seems to enjoy the largest share of the royal favour. They are in gene- ral very fat, and distinguished by a large protube- rance on the rump far exceeding that of the Cape sheep. This excrescence is semicircular in form, and of nearly half the size of the whole body. Some of these sheep are painted in different colours to gratify the fantastic taste of the natives, a practice which they follow with their bullocks and horses. When they intend to appear very sine,. they go so far as to gild the. hoofs and horns.
The stables of the Nawab consist: of a large square court of buildings, supported on brick pillars, with a view to the admission of air: these consist of more than one range; that which I examined contained about four hundred stalls, almost all silled with very excellent Persian horses. There are separate studs for mares; but breeding does not seem the favourite pursuit here: I saw but four foals; probably the consinement in- which they are kept is unfavourable to the dam and the colt. A park of mares and colts is deemed in England a very agreeable object, but in India it is unattainable, the sields being parched for nine months in the year; a groom is here put to his wits end for provender; hay is unknown; grass roots scraped up with a sharp trowel, being the sub- stitute for this provender; and it is often procured on places which you would declare absolutely bare earth; every thing above ground being completely burnt away.
A very large breed of Guzarat bullocks is kept in a cow-house near the stables: the introduction of this breed among the peasants, one would imagine Would prove of great advantage in a country where the draught cattle are so small and pitiful as those of Oude. But the Ryut, if he gets his labour done, cares not in how slovenly a style it may be executed; or even how small the quantity performed. This is the nature of the race even where it is fully protect- ed; what then can we expect here, where nothing is secure, and where a good teem of cattle would be a kind of attractive bait, to bring the robbers to a farm, or an Aumil from the Court, both equally addicted to plunder?
One of the curiosities of this place is a mixed species between the goat and deer, which is spotted, and neater in its form than the ordinary goat. The variety of horned cattle, horses, and sheep, is much greater than in Europe. Here are kept a few buf- faloes in remarkably sine condition: they are not fully tamed; and by some means or other are much handsomer than the common domestic kind. Apes, monkies, and a variety of the tropical animals, make a part of the raree shew exhibited at this Court: one of the former is taught to make a very genteel salam to his visitors. The natives of India are very fond of these accomplishments; many of them spend whole days in teaching parrots to speak a few Persian words. The management of the Me- nagerie employs a great number of people; and although their allowances have been much curtailed since the commencement of the present reign, the department must swallow up large sums. Many crores of pigeons are kept at the public expence, and elephants and camels to a large amount.
The food bestowed in this manner would re- move want from the city, if not from the kingdom of Oude: But the art of government is less under- stood, or more perverted in India, than any other science, meanly as we may regard their attainments in them all.
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