THK ZEBRA. 219 



have believed, but that I have seen more than 

 one instance of it among ourselves. I have seen 

 a poor fellow, who made a practice of stealing and 

 killing dogs for their skins, pursued in full cry for 

 three or four streets together by all the bolder 

 breed of dogs, while the weaker flew from his 

 presence with affright. How these animals could 

 thus find out their enemy, and pursue him, ap- 

 pears I own unaccountable, but such is the fact ; 

 and it not only obtains in dogs, but in several 

 other animals, though perhaps to a less degree. 

 This very probably may have been, in some mea- 

 sure, a cause that has hitherto kept the zebra in 

 its state of natural w r ildness ; and in which it may 

 continue, till kinder treatment shall have recon- 

 ciled it to its pursuers. 



It is very likely, therefore, as a more civilized 

 people are now placed at the Cape of Good Hope, 

 which is the chief place where this animal is found, 

 that we may have them tamed and rendered ser- 

 viceable. Nor is its extraordinary beauty the only 

 motive we have for wishing this animal among the 

 number of our dependants : its swiftness is said to 

 surpass that of all others ; so that the speed of a 

 zebra is become a proverb among the Spaniards 

 and Portuguese. It stands better upon its legs 

 also than the horse, and is consequently stronger 

 in proportion. Thus, if by proper care we im- 

 proved the breed, as we have in other instances, 

 we should probably in time come to have a race 

 as large as the horse, as fleet, as strong, and much 

 more beautiful. 



