OF THE OX. 103 



protected than bales of merchandise, exposed 

 to the rain, to the heat of the sun, to sudden 

 changes of temperature, to cold and cutting 

 draughts, increased by the rapid motion of the 

 train; these animals, foundered, prostrate, 

 panting with fever and torturing pains, still 

 have to undergo new trials, if they cross the 

 sea. In this case, the wretched victims are 

 violently expelled from the locomotive, rocking 

 sheds of the railway ; a leathern strap hanging 

 from a crane lifts them into the air, and 

 lets them down into the mid -deck of a ship, 

 where they are crowded as closely together as 

 possible, for here, too, space is very costly. 

 Finally, the vessel gets under way and 

 ploughs the ocean; contrary winds beat it 

 about in every direction, and these poor crea- 

 tures have to endure a new kind of torture, 

 accompanied by the intolerable pangs of sea- 

 sickness ; and in this state it is that they 

 alight on the British soil, and are driven off to 

 the different markets. 



It is useless to expatiate at length on the 

 state of general derangement and disease in 

 which these oxen reach their final destination. 

 Some amongst them have endured for eight or 



