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 14th century, and was visited by the famous traveller Ibn Batuta. In the 15th century 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 1469 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 beginning of the 16th century, its military and commercial capabilities at once struck his mind. In 1510 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.
The conquest of Goa illustrates the essentially military basis on which the Portuguese power in India rcstcd. The subsequent history of the town has been one of luxury, ostentation, and decay. After bearing a siege by the king of Bijapur, and suffering from a terrible epidemic, Goa reached the summit of its prosperity at tla end of the 16th century, during the very years when the English Company was struggling into existence under Elizabeth. “Goa Dourada," or Golden Goa, seemed a place of fabulous wealth to the plain merchants who were destined to be the founders of British India. “Whoever has seen Goa need not see Lisbon,” said a proverb of that day. Indeed, if the accounts of travellers are to be trusted, Goa presented a scene of military, ceclesiasticul. and commcrcial magnificence, such as has had no parallel in the ICurol‘wan capitals of India. The brilliant pomp and picturesque display of Goa were due to the fact that it was not only a flourishing harbour, but the centre of a great military and ecclesiastical powcr. 'J'lu- Portuguese based their dominion in India on conqucst by the sword. They laboured to consolidate it by a prosclytizing organization which throws all other missionary efforts in India into the shade.
Goa reached its climax of pomp and power about the year 1600. Immediately afterwards commenced the long struggle with the Dutch, which before the end of the century had strippcd Portugal of its fairest possessionsin the East. In 1603 the Dutch blockadcd Goa, but had to raise the siege. In 1635 the old epidemic fcvcr which had afllicted Goa in the preceding century again brokc out, and raged for five years. In 1639 the Dutch once more blockadcd Goa, but found their meagre force of twelve ships insuflicient for its capture. In 1666 luxury and the plague and the Dutch privatcm-s had effectually crippled the commerce of Goa. Thcvcnot in that year drew a powerful picture of thcdecayed city. In 1675 Dr. John Fryer described the city as in a ruinous state, whilst the inhabitants still made pitiful attempts at display in spite of tlnir increasing misery. In 1683 Goa narrowly escapcd falling into the hands (if the Marhatta hordes under Sambaji. Before 1687 the abandmnm-nt of Old Goa had taken place. “ Many streets," says an oflicial dOcu- ment of that year, “have now become lonely and uninhabited." The river had siltcd opposite its quays, ships could no longer approach the city, the fever had again broken out, and the population had mOVcd out to suburbs nearer the mouth of the river. In 1695 only 20,000 inhabitants remained. In 1739 the whole territory was attacked by the Marhattds, and only saved by the unexpectch ap- pearance of a new Viceroy with a fleet. Various attempts were made in vain to rebuild Old Goa, and by the middle of the 18th century "this fairest but poorest settlement had become a burdcn to the Portuguese Home Government, costing no less than 300,000 piastrcu. a year."
In 1759 further attempts to rebuild Old Goa were givcn _up, and the governor changed lllS residence to Panjim or New Goa, thc present city, at the mouth of the river. In 1775 the populatlon was reduced to about 1600 souls, of whom 1198 were Christians, almost entirely half-castes and native converts. In 1759 also the Jesuits were expelled. They had got into their hands what little commerce remained, and the last touch was put to the ruin of Old Goa. “ The river washes the remains of a great city,—an arsenal in ruins, palaces in ruins, quay walls in ruins, churches in ruins,— all in ruins. “'0 locked and saw the site of the Inquisition, the bishop’s prison, a grand cathedral, great churches, chapels, cou- vcnts, religious houses, on knolls surrounded by jungle and trees
