HUNTING THE WILD ASS. 347 



the face, the sides of the neck and body, are of a flaxen color; the- 

 hind parts of the thighs are the same ; the fore part divided from 

 the flank by a white line, which extends round the rump tp the 

 tail : the belly and legs are also white : along the very top of the 

 back, from the mane quite to the tail, runs a stripe of bushy 

 waved hairs of a coffee color, broadest above the hind part, grow- 

 ing narrower again towards the tail ; another of the same color 

 crosses it at the"shoulders (of the males only), forming a mark, 

 such as distinguishes the tame asses ; the dorsal band and the 

 mane are bounded on each side by a beautiful line of white, 

 well described by Oppian, who gives an admirable account of the 

 whole. Its winter coat is very fine, soft, and silky, much undu- 

 lated, and likest to the hair of the camel ; greasy to the touch ; and 

 the flaxen color, during that season, more exquisitely bright. Its 

 summer coat is very smooth, silky, and even, with exception of 

 certain shaded rays that mark the sides of the neck, pointing 

 downwards. These animals inhabit the dry and mountainous 

 parts of the deserts of Great Tartary, but not higher than lat. 48 

 They are migratory, and arrive in vast troops to feed, during the 

 summer, in the tracts E. and N. of lake Aral. About autumn they 

 collect in hundreds, and direct their course towards the north of 

 India, to enjoy a warm retreat during winter. But Persia is their 

 most usual place of retirement ; where they are found in the moun- 

 tains of Casbin, some even at all times of the year. Barboga says, 

 they penetrate even into the southern parts of India, to the mountains 

 of Malbar and Golconda. According to Leo Africanus, wild asses 

 of an ash color are found in the north deserts of Africa. The Arabs 

 lake them in snares for the sake of their flesh. If fresh killed, it 

 is hot and unsavory ; if kept two days after it is boiled, it becomes 

 ixcellent meat. These people, the Tartars and Romans, agreed 

 m their preference of this to any other food ; the latter indeed chose 

 them young, at a period of life in which it was called Lolisio. 

 (See MARTIAL, xiii. 97.) The epicures of Rome preferred those 

 of Africa to all others. The grown onagri were introduced among 

 the spectacles of the theatre ; and their combats were preferred even 

 to those of the elephants. The manners of the wild ass are very 



