Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 10.djvu/730

706 ing a subdued note resembling the harsh creaking of a frog.‘ The noise made by the ohl bulls, as they roam singly during the rutting season, is much more formidable, being usually compared to the roar of the lion ; and many sportsmen who have hunted the gnu bear testimony to the remarkable like- ness between the solitary males with their long manes, when seen at a considerable distance, and the “king of beasts.” They are by no means the formidable creatures their fero- cious aspect might lead one to suppose. IIowever defiant the herd appears as it approaches a caravan, the report of a gun puts the whole troop of guns to ﬂight, and they are never known to attack man unless driven thereto in self- defence. The female has seldom more than a single young one at a birth, the calf at ﬁrst being of a whitish colour. \Vhen captured young, the gnu may, according to Captain Harris, be reared by the hand on cows’ milk ; and although of uncertain temper, it can be got to herd with the cattle on the farm. The ﬂesh of the calf is considered a delicacy, but that of the adult is insipid, being almost destitute of fat. Its long silky tail is in great request for chowries, and its hide is cut into strips and used for ropes and twine. The brindled gnu is a more northerly form, never being found south of the Orange river. It is readily distin- guished from the other species by the black colour of its tail and mane, the obscure vertical streaks on its body, its more elevated withers, and its extremely long aquiline nose. While equally grotesque in appearance and manner, it is much less spirited and active than the gnu. Its ﬂesh is highly prized by the natives, who also convert its hide into mantles, rendered attractive to South-African taste by being dressed Without removing the long hair of the mane and beard.  GOA, a Portuguese settlement on the Malabar or western coast of India, lying between 15° 41' 30" and 14° 53' 30” N. lat., and between 73° 45' and 74° 26 long. It is bounded on the N. by the river Tirakul or Auraundem, separating it from Sawant Wéri State, on the E. by the Western Ghats, on the S. by Kanara district, and on the W. by the Arabian Sea. Total area, 1062 square miles 5 population, 392,234. This settlement forms a patch of foreign territory on the east of the Bombay coast, and is surrounded on all sides, except to the seaward, by British districts. Goa is a hilly country, especially the recently acquired portion known as the Novas Conquistas. Its distinguishing feature is the Sahyadri Mountains, which after skirting a considerable portion of the north-eastern and south-eastern boundary, branch off westwards across the territory with numerous spurs and ridges. The plains are well watered by large navigable rivers. The most important is the Mandavi river, on whose banks both the ancient and modern cities of Goa stand, with a fine harbour formed by the promontories of Bardez and Salsette. The port of New Goa or I’anjim is divided into two anchorages by the projection of the who (cape) from the island of Goa, both capable of safely accom- modating the largest shipping. Goa ranks high as regards its early importance among the cities of western India. It emerges very distinctly in the, and was visited by the famous traveller Ibn Batuta. In the it formed the chief emporium of trade on the western side of India. Caravans of merchants brought down its products to the coast, and it was the only city in western India which enjoyed at this period a revenue of £10,000. Its wealth and advantageous situation attracted the Mahometan princes of the Deccan, and in it was taken by the Bahmani king. A ﬂeet of 120 ships operated from the sea; the Bahmani troops forced their way down the passes of the Ghats; and Goa capitulated. It next passed under the Bijapur dynasty, and on the arrival of Albuquerque, at the, its military and commercial capabilities at once struck his mind. In the fleet of Albuquerque, consisting of 20 sail of the line, with a few small vessels and 1200 ﬁghting men, hove in sight off the harbour. A holy mendicant or jogi had lately foretold its conquest by a foreign people from a distant land, and the disheartened citizens rendered up the town to the strangers. Eight leading men presented the keys of the gates to Albuquerque on their knees, together with a large banner which was usually unfurled on state occasions. Mounted on a richly caparisoned steed, Albuquerque entered the city in a triumphal procession, with the Portuguese banners carried by the ﬂower of the Lisbon nobility and clergy amidst the acelamations of an immense multitude, who showered upon the conqueror ﬁligree ﬂowers of silver and gold. Albuquerque behaved well to the inhabitants, but was shortly afterwards expelled by the Bijapur king. However, he returned a few months later with a ﬂeet of 28 ships carrying 1700 men, and after a bloody attack, in which 2000 Mussulmans fell, forced his way into the town. For three days the miserable citizens were subjected to every atrocity. The ﬁfth part of the plunder, reserved for the Portuguese crown, amounted to £20,000.

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