306 THE ETHICAL KINSHIP 



out by owls and kites, they were gibbeted alive on 

 trees, head downwards, until the termination of 

 their martyrdom. In one especially tragic case, 

 a naturalist in spectacles dodged about painfully 

 among the topmost branches of a wood, while a 

 mias underneath, armed with a gun, inflicted on 

 him dreadful wounds. A veterinary surgeon of 

 Alfort was stretched on his back, his arms and 

 legs secured to posts, in order that a horse might 

 cut him up alive for the benefit of an equine 

 audience; but the generous steed, incapable of 

 vindictive feelings, with one disdainful stamp on 

 the midriff, crushed the wretch's life out ' (8). 



The following is from the Chinese. The speaker 

 is an ox : 



' I request, good people, that you will listen to 

 what I have to say. In the whole world there is no 

 distress equal to that of the ox. In spring and sum- 

 mer, autumn and winter, I diligently put forth 

 my strength ; during the four seasons there is 

 no respite to my labours. I drag the plough, a 

 thousand-pound weight fastened to my shoulders. 

 Hundreds of thousands of lashes are, by a leather 

 whip, inflicted upon me. Curses and abuses in a 

 thousand forms are poured upon me. I am 

 driven, with threatenings, rapidly along, and not 

 allowed to stand still. Through the dry ground 

 or the deep water I with difficulty drag the plough, 

 with an empty belly; the tears flow from both 

 my eyes. I hope in the morning that I shall be 

 early released, but I am detained until the 

 evening. If, with a hungry stomach, I eat the 



