y2 On the Onager of the Antients, 



in India; to which he likewife adds a horn on the forehead *. 

 Le Biiiyn and Adanfon f praife- alfo thel'c riding afles pro- 

 duced from wild afles, and they are extolled bv all oriental 

 travellers. They poflcf^ all the siood properties of the wild race, 

 from which they arefprung; that beautiful fiscure on account 

 of which Martial gives to the onager the G\i\\\\c\.oi pulcher — 

 great agility and fleetnefs in running. Befides, thev are 

 highly valued becaufe on journevs through the dcfert coun- 

 tries ihey hold out much better than tlie Tartar horfe.-, and 

 advance with an uniform pace at a falter rate fhan even the 

 camel %. 



The (lie afs brought to Peterfburgh, a reprefentation of 

 which in two pofnions is annexed, (fee Plate II.) had not 

 attained to her full growth, and in all probability continued 

 fo weakly becaufe ilie had been caught young and badlv taken 

 care of. She, hovvever, was able to perform the journey from 

 Aftracan to Mofcow, in fiunnicr, which is more than two 

 hundred German miles, continually trotting behind the poR- 

 waggon without reding more than two nights ; and though 

 Ihe had fuffered confidcrablv bv fomctimes falling down and 

 being dragged behind the cairiage, the had fufficicnl (trength, 

 after a (hort Itay at Mofcow, to travel two hundred miles 

 further to Peteifburgh : when the arrived there, indeed, flie 

 was exceedingly meagre and in bad condition, and could 

 fcarcely (land on her legs. She died towards the beginning 

 of autumn ; but rather in conftquence of the cold, and damp- 

 nefs of the climate, together with change of food and the 

 means employed to cure an eruption, which had broken out 

 on her fkin in confequenceof being overheated on the journey. 

 Notwithtlanding this malady, {lie recovered her flrength fofar 

 as to fliow, ill part, her former agility, and that (lie pofTefled 

 properties very fuperior to common aflx-s. But the damp- 

 nefs of autumn was evidently injurious to her; for when (lie 

 went out into the wfti fields her hoofs foon fplit, and at 

 length dropped from her feet. 



All the Tartar tribes confider the wild afs as one of the 

 fwiftcft of animals, and unanimouOy afTert, that the fleeteft 

 of their horfes are unable to keep pace with this light and 

 (lender animal. We are told by Xenophon that the wild 



* iElian. Hift. Animal. lib. iv^ c. 52, 



t Lc Bruyn Reize over ?.Io{kovie door Ptrficn en Indien, p. 405: 

 Adanfon Voyaajc an Senej^al. p iiS. 



:; Niebahi ttiimates the diftance which a riding afs can travel with an 

 Tjniform pace in half an hour to be 1750 prices — double thofe of a man ; 

 wherLv.s the langtil camels can travel only ij-j'^, and the di'omedary 1500 

 at ino(t. See his Reize in Arabkn, p. 3 1 1, 3 ri. 



aflcj ■ 



