Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-08-04

DAN RrrFss MAMMOTH MENAGERIE.-
Our citizens-to whom the name OF Col.
Dan Rice has long been familiar as the
very prince of showmen-wiu be rejolced
| to learn that this indefatigble manager Will
soon arrive in this city with his mammoth
menagerie. and that the grand exhibition
will be opened at the corner of State n
| Twelfth streets on Wednesday of this week.
The entertainment promises to be one rich
in instruction and amusement, and Will
draw immensely.
Among the wonderful features of this
exhibition, is that of the .sacred cattle"
which alone invests it with great interest.
The novelty of this feature demand more
than a passing notice, and we accordingly
give a short history of these remarkable
animals.
We are reliably informed that they were
never on exhibition in Europe or this coun-
try, and this being their first season, they
will no doubt create a furore, particularly
among the religious portion OF the differ
ent communities, where they may be eXh1-
bited. The following brief sketches may
not prove undressing. History shows
the Sacred Bull identified with such mir
acles, that we sometimes doubt the exist
ence of such an animal. 1t Is related that
he was with the ancient Egyptians las may
be seen by the figure of their god Apls) an
idol of worship, as he Is at present with
the Hindoos. 1t is said by Major Denham
and other authorities, that the Sacred Bull
is used sometimes on great occasions to en-
nance the interest and give additional i'm
portance to distinguished persons, for in
SEAnCe Inc uAIG0IeT Oh Il GuIEA or 0u1LdA4
about to be married, on her way to the
place appointed for the solemn rites to be
performed, she, mounted on the Sacred
Bull, eXtraYagantly adorned with amber,
silver rings, corafs, and all sorts OF hnery,
her hair streaming with fat, a black rim of
kohol, at least an inch wide round each of
her eyes, and arTayed for this important
occasion. She sits astride and with con-
siderable grace guides her animal by the
nose, through the cartilage of which there
is a leathern thong which serves as a bril-
die. The sacred cattle bear a harmed life
among the weak and supersticiOus Hin
docs, who venerate them and hold their
slaughter an objectionable sin. h Sal
cred Bull is peculiarly sdRetyied. He leads
an easy life wandering about the villages,
and even the cities, as they list, and taking
their pleasure and their food where they
like, if not prevented by the contributions
of the devOut. They NAV be seen every
day wandering at large IN the streets of
| Calcutta, eating rice, grain and flour in the
bazaar, and the utmost a native does, when
| he sees them honoring his goods too much,
is to urge them, by the gentIest hints, to
taste some of the good things on his neigh
Bayard Taylor tells US that ssthe narrow
streets of Benares are INSTRUCTED in the VI
cinity of the temple by these sacred bulls.
The place swarms with them, and they are
a great nuisance. They are knowing bulls,
perfectly conscious Of their sacred character,
and presume upon 1t to commit all sorts OF
depredations. They are the terror of the
1 4 III II L GIN ESSON0N10SN
though not always exempted from blows,
no one can stand before their horns, and
! these they do not scruple to usen necessa-
nv to secure their end. Sometimes, on
their foraging expeditions, they boldly
enter the houses, march up stairs and take
a stroll on the flat roofs, where they may
be seen looking down with great interest
on the passing crowd below. From these
eminences they take a view of the sur
rounding country, calculate its resources,
and having selected one of the richest spots
within their circle of vision, descend
~straightway, and set off in a bee line for
the place, which they never fail to nd.-
When the fields look promising on the
other side of the Ganges, they march down
to the river banks and prevent any pas
1 Sengers from going on board the Terry
L boats, until they are permitted TO enter
They cross and remain there until the sup
plies are exhausted, when they force a
passage back in the same manner. The
gardens of the English residents frequent
" suffer from their depredations, and the
only efectual way of guarding against
them, is to yoke them at once, and keep
them at hard labor a day or two, which SO
utterly disgusts them with the place, that
they never return to it. 1t is also affirmed
that they carefully avoid the n~eighborhood
of those butchers who supply the tables OF
the Fnglish. having observed thai some of
their brethren disappeared in a miraculous
manner, after f-requenting such 1ocaI1tes-
This Sacred Bull is the property OF Col.
Dan Rice. purchased by him from the
estate of the Hon. Mr.. Hocufnagle, de-
ceased. The Bull is nine years old, his
color is dark brown and gray, height sew
enteen hands, with fine symetrical proper
lions, and the most heavenly or benign
countenance man ever looked upon, or
rather an expression which man never
could have hoped to behold any of coos
creatures. Its hump is elevated to a re-
markable degree, and retains an upright
position. Instances are spoken OF where
this hump has attained the enormous
weight of fifty pounds. He is in size a
monster.