TRlis^SACTIONS. 81 



Oxen, geared in this way, walk, I am confident, one third, 

 if not one half, faster than when yoked in the American 

 fashion, and the loads they draw are heavier in about the 

 same proportion. They seem, too, much more lively, and 

 so to speak, cheerful, than our ox, bowed down as he is 

 by a heavy yoke and a heavier cart tongue. In descending 

 hills, a matter of no small consequence in rough countries, 

 where the heaviest loads are those brought down from the 

 uplands, as wood, stone, and the like, the advantages of 

 this method are obvious and great, and I cannot but think 

 that, in spite of the smaller cost of the cart, and the con- 

 venience of dumping, the wagon and head-bow would be 

 found preferable. I do not remember to have seen an ox- 

 cart in any part of Europe, except in Sicily, horses being 

 elsewhere always used for that vehicle, and then working 

 in thills, so the hinder end of the cart is suspended, by a 

 link, a stout stick nearly long enough to reach the ground, 

 to support that end in case of need, while the body is 

 prevented from tipping forward, and throwing too much 

 weight on the horse on descending ground, by a small third 

 wheel carried by a stanchion in front. 



In connection with this branch of the subject, I may men- 

 tion a practice very common in, but, so far as I know, con- 

 fined to, the Italian peninsula. It is that of employing 

 oxen to relieve horses in climbing long ascents. At the 

 foot of every considerable hill on the great roads, are kept 

 oxen to supply or assist horses in ascending, and they are 

 employed as well for the coaches of travellers as for com- 

 mon teams. The horses, whether detached or remaining 

 in harness, are completely relieved from the fatigue of 

 dragging up the load, and ready to start from the summit 

 with renewed vigor, while, as the oxen, from habit and 

 training, climb the hill quite as rapidly as horses would 

 do, there is no loss of time by the exchange. 



Cows are employed for this as well g,s for all other 

 labors of the yoke. I have often conversed with intelli- 

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