Another peculiarity of the tsaing is. that it does not seem to mind the
bites of the gad- or horse-fly, with which the teak-forests abound at the
beginning of the monsoon. The wild buffalo, which has apparently a
much tougher skin, is almost driven mad by these pests, and is compelled
to take to the rivers and swamps to avoid5 them, whereas the tsaing will
never resort to the water, but prefers to lie down in the forest surrounded
by these buzzing tormentors, when no doubt its long and bushy tail assists
in driving off the bloodsuckers. During the rains these animals betake
themselves to the low hills, where they feed on the bamboo, with which
the hills are covered ; and after the yearly fires they all descend into the
valley, and wander through the vast teak-forests. Unlike the gaur, they
never come down to the rice-fields of the villagers, and this is probably
owing to their extreme shyness. The cow calves during the rains, and
the young is of a light red colour, only one being produced at a birth.
At the beginning of the rains tsaing are always to be found at the foot
of the low hills, where they browse on the tender new bamboo-shoopfe.
These animals also travel great" distances to visit the so-called salt-licks,
one or two of which are generally found in places where the species is
obtained, though many of thesXTsalt-licks are nothing more than a mixture
of mud and water which has a slightly saline taste. These salt-licks are
also visited by hundreds of parrots, green and imperial pigeons^, and a lK
by elephants, gaur, pigs, and sambar. The tsaing is often shot at these
places by the hunter, who squats up in a tree close by. Gaur and tsaing
are never met with together in a herd, although I have found both beasts
within the radius of a mile of each other. The spoor of the tsaing is
heart-shaped, and very pointed anteriorly, quite unlike the track o f a
gaur ; this is owing to the hoofs of the former being much more pointed
and deer-like. These animals, both when feeding and lying down, always
have a sentry, generally a cow. When lying down, they generally rest
in a circle ; and when the sentry suspects danger she either stamps her
foot or gets up, and with a ‘ psheu ’ and a snort the whole herd stampede,
with their tails in the air. Thus alarmed, they go miles before stopping,
and it % usele|§; pursuing them under such circumstances. They are
always in good condition, although at times subject to cattle disease. All
.specimens which X have shot had splendid coats, smooth and shining, like
that of a well-groomed horses The skin is much prized by the Burmans
■ for making shoes. The under-parts of the body in one cow were covered
with small warts, varying in size, from that of a pea to a hazel-nut. The
neck of the bull is generally covered with scars, the result of wounds
received in combat.”
In a private letter the following additional particulars are communicated
by the same gentleman There ||j no doubt of the animal being
wild ; itsfj|hyness, keenness of scent, and habit of charging when wounded
beinSufficient to show this. But whethergriginally wild, or whether
formerly domesticated, i<S is impossible to say. My idea is that it is the
Hpriginal wild ox from which the present domestic Burmese cattle have
sprung ; in fact, it B imp<|§fble tH help remarking the similarity'in
colouring and general appearance of the cow in both breeds ; the difference
lies in the absence of the dorsal ridge in the domesticated cow and
the general gameness. and antelope-like form of the wild one. In the
domestic Burmese bull, on the other hand, I have seen nothing approaching
the size and magnificence o f a solitary bull tsaing. Such an old bull is
- one of the finest animals I have ever set eyes on, and I regret that I had
not a camera with me to take the specimens shot. An old bull gets almost
an iron-gray colour, while the younger ones are dark brown. I have never
noticed the white patch on the rump of the male, although this is a
marked feature in the female.”