The{80} cowskin is a kind of whip seldom seen in the northern states.

It is made entirely of untanned, but dried, ox hide, and is about as hard as a piece of well-seasoned live oak.

It is made of various sizes, but the usual length is about three feet.

The part held in the hand is nearly an inch in thickness; and, from the extreme end of the butt or handle, the cowskin tapers its whole length to a point.

This makes it quite elastic and springy.