er for carrying burthens. The
former are very strong, lift their legs well, and are broken in as
horses are; but the best are said to be natives of Arabia. They are not
all larger than ours, a smaller variety being frequently met with, nor
have they all the dark streak across the shoulders. They are of a pale
yellow, silvery grey, brown and reddish colors. The celebrated white
asses are Albinos. All have a short black mane, a dark streak upon the
back; and their tail, which so particularly distinguishes them from
horses, is covered with short hair, except at the tip, which is adorned
with a tuft, generally dark in color. Their peculiar cry or bray, is
produced by two small cavities in their windpipes; their hoofs are, in
Damascus, made into rings, which the lower classes wear under their
armpits, or round their thumbs, to save them from the rheumatism; their
flesh is much esteemed as food among the Persians and Tartars. They are
fond of congregating near Lake Aral in the summer, but go further to the
south in winter. Vast hordes exist in Tartary, each headed by a chief.
They are also numerous in America, having probably been left there by
the Spaniards.

Mr. Bell describes an ass which belonged to his grandfather, who was so
swift, that matches were made against him by the possessors of the
fastest asses which could be found; but he beat them all, and even
followed the hounds, coming up in gallant style, at the death of the
fox.

The well-known antipathy between the horse and the ass is scarcely to
be explained, and has been often overcome; nevertheless, it always more
or less exists, and many instances are on record in which it has caused
inconvenience. One of these I can supply, which occurred when I was in
Portugal. I started on a donkey to make a drawing of the great aqueduct
which supplies Lisbon with its delicious water, and just as I had chosen
my position, and established myself, my husband rode up on a beautiful
and valuable horse, belonging to a friend. He wished to procure some
specimens of the neighbouring rocks, and not liking to take a borrowed
animal among them, he desired my donkey guide to hold his steed as well
as mine. The boy obeyed; and Mr. Bowdich soon disappeared among the
hollows. For a few minutes the horse stood quietly enough; but from the
beginning he gave very significant glances at the companion forced upon
him. At last he worked himself into a complete passion; snorted,
pranced, reared,