ASSES. 275 



horse, and fed well at different stages. On his return 

 he came in without the aid of a whip, at the rate of seven 

 miles an hour ; and performed the whole journey with 

 ease. He was twelve hands and a half high, and half- 

 bred Spanish and English. 



Asses, although they do credit to good feeding, can 

 live on very little, and that little of inferior quality. 

 They have a decided manner of refusing to move when 

 they are overloaded ; and they are often seized with an 

 immoveable fit without having any apparent reason for 

 it. In steep places they are invaluable, and their feet 

 more sure than those of men would be. I have seen 

 them put both their fore-feet out together, and let them 

 slip, then drag their hind-feet up to them, and repeat 

 this process on descending the vitrified and almost per- 

 pendicular roads of Madeira, taking a zigzag direction 

 across the road each time. Mules do the same, and 

 perhaps derive the faculty from their asinine blood. 



There cannot be a better proof of the intellect of 

 asses, than by showing them to be fond of the fine arts. 

 Therefore the account of one at Chartres must enter into 

 this work. 4 He used to go to the Chateau d' Ouarvillc, 

 to hear the music that was often performed there. The 

 owner of the chateau was a lady, who had an excellent 

 voice ; and whenever she began to sing, he never failed 

 to draw nearer the window, and listen very attentively. 

 Once, when a piece was performed, which no doubt 

 pleased him better than any he had heard before, he 

 left his ordinary post, walked without ceremony into the 

 music-room ; and in order to add to the concert what 

 he thought perhaps might be an improvement, he began 

 to bray with all his might/ 



