A History of the Mahrattas v2.c37.97

v2.c37.97

¹ The usual way is for two or three horsemen to steal forward quietly, get the bullocks' heads turned to a flank, when a few, on each side, gallop at them with their spears; two or three goad them from behind, and off they go at full speed, guided in any direction with great facility. The Madras followers, who are by far the most active of all camp people (though the practice is not confined to them), tie the bullock's load to his head, so that when the animal throws his load in any way, he is, as it were, anchored; and whilst the rope holds, he cannot get away; but when unloaded, or let loose to graze, they are very apt to be carried off, even from within the camp guards.