26 SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 



saddle but not the numbdah, tying up the mule in the 

 shade for about half-an-hour to let the animal get cool. 

 They then remove the numbdah and lead the mule 

 to roll. The best place for this purpose is in the 

 ashes of an old camp-fire. In fact, in Abyssinia there 

 are regular rolling-places for the mules and donkeys 

 at most of the camping grounds ; the animals seem to 

 know them by instinct, especially the patient ass, 

 which latter is used merely for carrying baggage. 

 Anybody riding an ass in Abyssinia would be hooted 

 through the country. This is rather extraordinary, as 

 these animals, among the Arabs, and also in Egypt, 

 are considered quite the thing, and large donkeys of 

 good breed fetch very high prices in Cairo. I myself 

 saw one at Suez that had cost at Cairo 40/., but he 

 was made like a race-horse. 



After the mule has rolled they take him to water ; 

 they next hobble him, and let him go out to graze. 

 The best sort of hobble I have ever seen, and one 

 used in Abyssinia, is one by which the near fore leg is 

 tied up with a leather thong, about three-quarters of 

 an inch wide, to the off hind leg, or vice versa. The 

 thong must be so tied that the mule can walk pretty 

 easily, and yet it should not be too loose. 



These remarks apply to donkeys as well as to 

 mules ; but, of course, the former animals do not 

 require so much care as mules. They need not be 



