218 HISTOUY OF 



otherwise with regard to the zebra : it is the na- 

 tive of countries where the human inhabitants are 

 but little raised above the quadruped. The na- 

 tives of Angola, or Caffraria, have no other idea 

 of advantage from horses but as they are good for 

 food ; neither the fine stature of the Arabian 

 courser, nor the delicate colourings of the zebra, 

 have any allurements to a race of people who 

 only consider the quantity of flesh, and not its 

 conformation. The delicacy of the zebra's shape, 

 or the painted elegance of its form, are no more 

 regarded by such, than by the lion that makes it 

 his prey. For this reason, therefore, the zebra 

 may hitherto have continued wild, because it is 

 the native of a country where there have been no 

 successive efforts made to reclaim it. All pur- 

 suits that have been hitherto instituted against it, 

 were rather against its life than its liberty : the 

 animal has thus been long taught to consider man 

 as its most mortal enemy; and it is not to be 

 wondered that it refuses to yield obedience, where 

 it has so seldom experienced mercy. There is a 

 kind of knowledge in all animals, that I have 

 often considered with amazement ; which is, that 

 they seem perfectly to know their enemies, and 

 to avoid them. Instinct, indeed, may teach the 

 deer to fly from the lion, or the mouse to avoid 

 the cat : but what is the principle that teaches 

 the dog to attack the dog-butcher wherever he 

 sees him ? In China, where the killing and dress- 

 ing dogs is a trade, whenever one of these people 

 move out, all the dogs of the village, or the street, 

 are sure to be after him. This I should hardly 



