102 ZEBRA. 



it has become the slave and companion only of the poor. 

 Thus compelled to undergo the lowest servitude, it often- 

 times experiences all the misery of harsh and ill usage. 

 Naturally patient and persevering, it is loaded with enor- 

 mous burdens, or compelled to drag the heaviest weights ; 

 and in order to urge it forward, its sides or back are 

 goaded with a sharp-pointed iron prong. Under such 

 treatment, we cannot be surprised that its native spirit is 

 subdued, and that sometimes it should show itself in- 

 tractable or stubborn. Persons, however, who are in the 

 habit of seeing these animals treated with the kindness 

 and attention they deserve, know that they are naturally 

 mild and gentle, and that they undergo a reasonable 

 share of labour and fatigue, with cheerfulness and 

 alacrity. To the poor, they are much more serviceable 

 than horses. Their constitution is so hardy, that, even in 

 the depth of winter, the most wretched hovel is sufficient 

 shelter for them from the cold ; and so temperate are 

 they, with respect to food, that they can subsist on such 

 vegetables, as almost any other animals would refuse to 

 eat. The skin of the Ass is converted into leather, and 

 is useful for various purposes : what is called shagreen is 

 made from it. The milk is recommended as beneficial 

 in several disorders. 



Zebra. Of the habits of life of this beautiful creature, 

 in its native plains, we know but little. It chiefly fre- 

 quents the open country of the interior of South Africa, 

 lives in herds, and in speed is said to exceed all the 

 quadrupeds of that quarter of the world, except the 

 antelopes. It is vicious, and incapable of being ren- 

 dered domestic like the horse. Such are its natural 

 shyness and timidity, that it always runs off into the 



