440 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



ass ; Joseph's brethren rode on asses, wlien they went 

 down to Egypt to purchase corn ; and we are told that 

 when Moses left Jethro, his father-in-law, he took his 

 wife and his sons, and set them upon asses, and returned 

 to Egypt. In the enumeration of Job's property, which 

 appears to have been very great, we find, that he had five 

 hundred she-asses; and in his prosperity he is said to have 

 had a thousand. It is probable that the preference given 

 to she-asses arose from the circumstance, that as the ass can 

 subsist on a scanty and coarse fare, the female would not 

 only bear the riders and their goods through the desert, but 

 also with her milk contribute to the support of her master 

 and his followers. 



The ass is by no means that stupid animal which he is 

 generally supposed to be. He possesses all the senses in a 

 very high degree, and his perceptions are clear and precise ; 

 and it may be affirmed that he has more solid good qualities 

 than the horse. His disposition is naturally timid ; hence 

 the caution of his movements, which the thoughtless have 

 improperly attributed to stupidity and obstinacy. 



The ass is robust in constitution, and is liable to few dis- 

 eases. His temperance is very great, being able to subsist 

 on a scanty meal, of the coarsest herbage. He is more 

 sure-footed than the horse, and superior to him in compara- 

 tive strength. The Hebrew word athor is a term for the 

 ass, from a root which signifies strong or firm ; and he is less 

 easily startled than the horse, a failing in this quadruped 

 by which many lose their lives. Those very qualities 

 which unthinking men ought to appreciate, have, on the 

 contrary, the efiect of bringing upon the unfortunate and 

 patient animal an overwhelming load ot unmerited hard- 

 ships, barbarous chastisement, and contempt. His services 

 are despised by the rich ; and he is destined only to share the 



