20 i THE ASS. 



their first load, their celerity is gone, their ferocity ap- 

 pears totally to have subsided, and they become tame 

 and stupid through the rest of their lives. They al- 

 ways feed together in herds ; and if a horse strays 

 amongst them, he insures his fate, for they all attack 

 him without mercy, and either bite or kick him till 

 they have left him dead upon the field. 



Such is this animal in his natural state — swift, for- 

 midable, bold, and fierce ; but the moment he has lost 

 the blessing of freedom, his disposition and habit, seem 

 totally to change. In a state of tameness, he doubtless 

 is the most gentle of all animals, and suffers with con- 

 stancy and courage all that cruelty can inflict : he is 

 temperate with regard both to the quantity and quality 

 of his provision, and will be contented to fare upon the 

 most neglected weeds ; if he gives preference to any 

 vegetable, it is to the palatine: but he is delicately nice 

 in the choice of his drink, and will never quench his 

 thirst but at a pellucid stream, perfectly free from se- 

 diment or soil: as he is seldom saddled, he frequently 

 rolls upon the grass ; yet he has a great dislike to wet 

 his feet, and frequently turns out of his way to avoid 

 the dirty parts of the road. 



When very young, this animal is sprightly, and ra- 

 ther handsome ; but either by age or bad treatment he 

 soon loses those perfections, and generally becomes 

 either headstrong, stupid, or slow. The she-ass is re- 

 markable for her attachmentvto her young, and they 

 shew a fondness for their owners greater than can be 

 believed; they will scent them out at the greatest dis- 

 tance, and, when once found, refuse to stir an inch 

 from their side. They walk,-* trot, and gallop like a 

 horse, yet are totally unable to persevere with speed, 

 for though they may set out very freely upon their jour- 



