Jawsha

Widely used as powerful beasts of burden in Bahuna, Zephasia, Disradún, and Kishira, the jawsha is a huge reptile placed under the lawlock. Adult male jawshas grow up to 23 to 40 feet (7m to 12m) in length, depending upon the variety. They are very heat tolerant, and prefer a hot, humid climate. They were first domesticated no later than the sixth millennium before Salmakhamer in northern Bahuna. In captivity with proper care and diet, a jawsha typically lives about sixty years. Jawshas are carnivorous and expensive to maintain due to their diet.

A jawsha is typically ridden with a heavy leather saddle and saddlery. They can also be fitted with howdahs for more comfort for the rider. They are used on roads to pull wagons. In Zephasia and elsewhere, families practice the art of handling jawshas as their traditional occupation. Jawsha-handlers are trained themselves in childhood so they have the necessary skills and folk magic to govern the large beasts.

Jawsha warriors are less common today than in ancient times. Jawshas are today used for military support and to bear smaller artillery into battle. Like many other galimshara, jawshas can be trained to swallow enemy combatants, although this is avoided if the combatant wears metal armor or other objects that could harm the jawsha.

The relationship between jawshas and ugatils is nearly certain. Scholars believe that ugatils were bred from the largest jawshas over seven thousand years ago.

See Also

• Galimshara
• Jawsha-Handler
• Ugatil