THE ASS. 67 



lame, ass, in a fight with a dog. The latter could 

 never seize on the long-eared beast, which sometimes 

 caught the dog in his mouth, and sometimes threw him 

 under his knees, and kneeled on him, until the dog 

 at length fairly gave up the contest. 



But the asses of Egypt and Arabia excel even 

 those of- Spain, in the gracefulness of their move- 

 ments, and the nobleness of their carriage. Their 

 foot is sure, their step light, and their paces quick, 

 brisk, and easy. They are used for riding by the 

 most opulent of the inhabitants, and even ladies of 

 the highest rank. 



When the rider alights, he has no occasion to fasten 

 his ass ; he merely pulls the rein of the bridle tight, 

 and passes it over a ring on the fore-part of the sad- 

 dle : this confines the animal's head, and is sutlicient 

 to make him remain patiently in his place. 



Of an animal so well known as the ass a particular 

 description is unnecessary. Every one is acquainted 

 with his unparalleled patience, perseverance, and 

 gentleness. He is more sluggish and untractable, 

 but stronger hi proportion to his size, than the horse, 

 and liable to fewer diseases ; and of all the different 

 kinds of quadrupeds, the least infested with lice, or 

 any other vermin. The ass is kept at a very mode- 

 rate expence, and contents himself with the coarsest 

 herbage ; but is particularly fond of plantain. He 

 is, however, extremely nice in the choice of his 

 water, and will drink only at the clearest stream. He 

 is much afraid of wetting his feet, and will, eveu 

 when loaded, turn aside to avoid the dirty parts of the 

 road. He sleeps less than the horse, and never lies 

 down for that purpose, except when extremely fa- 

 tigued. He is three or four years in coming to per- 

 fection, and lives to the age of twenty or twenty-five 

 years. The she-ass goes eleven months with young. 

 The skin of the ass is valuable, and is converted to 

 different purposes; as to cover drums, and some- 

 times to make shoes, as also a thick kind of parch- 

 ment, useful for pocket-books. Of the ass's-skin the 

 Orientals make the sagri, which we cull shagrcetu 



