t6 Q^U ADRUPPDS. 



bend their, knees to take up, or fet down burthens; and are treated 

 by their mafters with much tendernefs and care, which in India has de-. 

 generated into fuperftition, Thefe animals are, among the Hottentots, 

 chiefly efteemed, The bull is at once their proteftor and fervant, 

 attends the flocks, guards them, herds in the fliraying flieep, and fhews 

 no mercy to robbers, or even ftrangers, who attempt to plunder. 

 Thefe backeleys (as they are called) are taught to combat even the 

 enemies of the kraal. Every Hottentot army is furnifhed with a herd 

 of them, which is let loofe againfb the enemy. The backeley lives 

 in* the fame hut with its mafher, and, by habit, gains an aff'eftion for 

 him. When a backeley dies, a fucceflbr is chofen by a council of the old 

 men of the kraal j he is then joined with a veteran of his own kind, 

 from whom he learns his art, becoms focial and diligent, and is taken 

 for life into human friendlhip and prote6lion. 



The humps of the bifons are of different fizes, fome weighing from 

 forty to fifty pounds, others lefs ; it is not to be confidered as a part 

 indifpenfable to the animal ; it refembles a griftly fat ; and is faid to 

 cut and tafte fom.ewhat like udder. 



The American bifon is rather lefs than that of the ancient continent ; 

 its hair is longer and thicker, its beard more remarkable, and its hide 

 more luftrous and foft. They breed with the tame kinds, brought 

 from Europe j and thus produce a race peculiar to that country. 



The cow kind feems an ancient inmate in every climate, domcfl:ic 

 and tame in civilized countries, favage and wild in wild countries, but 

 capable of being ufeful in all : able naturally to defend itfelf againfl: 

 every enemy of the forefl:; and only fubordinate to man : taken from 

 the dam in a favage ftate, either in Africa or Afia, foon becomes 

 humble, patient and familiar; and man may be confidered, in thofc 

 countries, as almoft helplef^ without their afllltance. 



THE BUFFALO, 



IF we compare the buffalo with our common cow, no two animals 

 can be more alike, either in form or nature ; equally fub- 

 miflive to the yoke, often living under the fame roof, employed in the 

 fame domeftic fervices; the make and turn of their bodies greatly alike, 

 yet no two animals can be aiore diltindt. Such is the fixed averfion 



between 



