THE OSTRICH. 51 



alone that they are prized in this domestic state; 

 they are often ridden upon, and used as horses. 

 Moore assures us, that at Joar he saw a man tra- 

 velling upon an ostrich; and Adanson asserts, 

 that, at the factory of Podore, he had two which 

 were then young, the strongest of which ran 

 swifter than the best English racer, although 

 he carried two Negroes on his back. As soon as 

 the animal perceived that it was thus loaded, it 

 set off running with all its force, and made several 

 circuits round the village, till at length the peo- 

 ple were obliged to stop it by barring up the way. 

 How far this strength and swiftness may be use- 

 ful to mankind, even in a polished state, is a 

 matter that perhaps deserves inquiry. Posterity 

 may avail themselves of this creature's abilities ; 

 and riding upon an ostrich may one day become 

 the favourite, as it most certainly is the swiftest 

 mode of conveyance. 



The parts of this animal are said to be converti- 

 ble to many salutary purposes in medicine. The 

 fat is said to be emollient and relaxing; that 

 while it relaxes the tendons, it fortifies the nervous 

 system ; and being applied to the region of the 

 loins, it abates the pains of the stone in the kid- 

 neys. The shell of the egg powdered, and given 

 in proper quantities, is said to be useful in pro- 

 moting urine, and dissolving the stone in the 

 bladder. The substance of the egg itself is 

 thought to be peculiarly nourishing; however, 

 Galen, in mentioning this, asserts, that the eggs 

 of hens and pheasants are good to be eaten; those 

 of geese and ostriches are the worst of all. 



