250 Mr. E. Blyth on the different Animals known as Wild Asses. 



against them." His brother, Dr. A. Burnes, also remarks that 

 " Asses, much larger than those of India, are to be met with in 

 Sindh, where the Ass attains the development which it is known 

 to enjoy only within a very limited geographical distribution." 

 But are not these fine Asses chiefly imported into Sindh, rather 

 than bred there? albeit the climate should well agree with 

 them. A correspondent informs me that " what arc called Bok- 

 hara Asses are frequently brought to Peshawar. They are very 

 large and strong, and are both of the usual colour and white. 

 Of the latter a friend of mine had three, viz. a male and female, 

 and their offspring. There was one of the usual colour, larger 

 than either of the two white ones, and I have some idea that I 

 had heard it said that he was over thirteen hands high ; but of 

 this I will not be positive, having paid no great attention. I 

 think they were not at all uncommon at Peshawar when the 

 Kafilas were getting through ; and, as far as I remember, the 

 price asked for one was from 80 to 150 rupees. As for where 

 they came from, that I don't know in particular, except that 

 they came with the Kafilas of horses from the north. The dark 

 one I have mentioned was an extremely fine specimen ; but my 

 friend got him for (I think) 80 rupees, to use as a baggage- 

 donkey, and, as far as I recollect, he was sold cheap because he 

 declined to act as a stallion to mares, and was therefore useless 

 for the purpose of begetting mules." It would appear, there- 

 fore, that these fine Asses are foreign to Sindh, and are mostly 

 brought for the purpose of procreating mules ; in which case 

 she- Asses of the kind are probably scarcely known there, and 

 consequently the race can hardly be said to be introduced into 

 the country. It would nevertheless appear to be completely 

 naturalized in Bokhara. 



These superb Asses are bred and duly estimated in America ; 

 and it is time that they were introduced into the Australian 

 colonies, if not also those of South Africa. In Capt. Marryatt's 

 well-known f Diary in America/ the novelist describes a cattle- 

 show which he attended in Lexington, Kentucky. The fourth 

 day of the show was reserved for the exhibition of Asses. " Se- 

 veral were shown standing fifteen hands high, with head and 

 ears in proportion : the breed has been obtained from the Mal- 

 tese Ass, crossed by those of Spain and the south of France. 

 Those imported seldom average more than fourteen hands high; 

 but the Kentuckians, by great attention and care, have raised 

 them up to fifteen hands, and sometimes even to sixteen. The 

 prices paid for these splendid animals (for such they really are) 

 will prove how much they were in request. One male, of great 

 celebrity, sold for 5000 dollars (upwards of .£1000 sterling). A 

 half- share of another male was sold for 2500 dollars. At the 



