CHAPTER XXIX 



THE OX 



THE taming of the ox took place in Asia a very 

 long time ago when our western countries were 

 covered with wild forests in which a few miserable 

 tattooed tribes wandered, living by the chase. 

 Bringing the ox under subjection must have been one 

 of the most memorable of events for the native of the 

 Orient, since thereby the animal's powerful shoul- 

 ders lent themselves to the labors of agriculture, and 

 the tiller of the soil profited accordingly. It must 

 also have been a very dangerous undertaking, no 

 doubt impossible without the help of the dog. The 

 friendly goat perhaps came to man of its own ac- 

 cord ; the peaceful 

 sheep let itself be 

 folded without re- 

 sistance ; but the ox, 

 terrible in power 

 and anger, throwing 

 the disemboweled 

 enemy heavenward ox 



with a toss of its horns, certainly did not let itself be 

 led from its native forest to the stable without a fight. 

 No account has come down to us of the brave men 

 who first dared to attack the formidable beast with 



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