PRODUCTS. 237 be met with, furnished with a high hump, or deposition of fat above the fore-quarters, and a dependent flap of skin below the neck and chest, reaching downwards to the knee.* The oxen are chiefly used for riding, and carrying weights : a cord passed through the nose of the animal forms a species of bridle. They are instructed for these purposes at a very early age, and, indeed, by children. The instruction, however, requires immense patience, for many months frequently transpire before a young calf will allow a lad to sit quietly on its back, and the boys meet with innumerable falls, before they succeed in thoroughly breaking-in one of these animals. In many parts of Africa, where the camel will not live on account of the fly (yohara), oxen are only employed for riding, and transporting loads. There are many sheep, and among them one species of very large breed ; they bear no wool, but short hair ; the mutton is of good flavour, and is preferred to beef, or to the flesh of goats. The goat is very common in the country, and may be reckoned among the chief domestic animals.

There are several varieties, or rather cross breeds, and some of exceedingly elegant form ; but they are mostly ver)' small. Nothing can induce the Turks to partake of goat's-milk during the rainy season ; for they firmly believe that it produces fever, if the animal should happen to have browsed the leaves of a tree called, in Arabic, escher {asclepias p'ocera), and known as a poisonous plant. It is, in fact, the tree • Buffaloes.—Tit.