LIY 



" Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judg- 

 ment and walk by the way," sang Deborah of old ; and 

 to-day the white ass bred by the sheiks of the desert is a 

 noble animal and highly prized. Such a one is shown in 

 the illustration. The rider of such an animal might well 

 sit in judgment, though to walk by the way is not often 

 the habit of the dignified Arab of our times. He will let 

 his wife walk, he himself prefers the comfort of a horse 

 or ass ; and the latter is not infrequently chosen as the 

 better mount. The white ass of high quality commands, 

 as asses go, a long price ; and for comfort on a journey 

 is almost unequalled — for speed unexcelled. On rough 

 ground he is more surefooted than any horse, and a very 

 goat for climbing. The specimen illustrated shows signs 

 of knees roughened by kneeling down in stony places, 

 and the marks of hobbling on his fore fetlocks. Many 

 are better cared for and have no such blemishes. But, as 

 a rule, all asses show scored knees, not from falling, but 

 from lying down where the ground is rough. There are 

 asses which are not surefooted — generally from age or 

 overwork — but the ass is wont to be so. 



Perhaps as w^onderful as the donkey, almost, is the 

 donkey-boy. He always accompanies his fare — you have 

 to give him unusual backsheesh to induce him to remain 

 behind ; and however fast the donkey goes, the boy is al- 

 ways up. In fact, he tries to hurry the donkey all he can, 

 the sooner to finger his backsheesh. He trots along, carries 



