PROSPECTING THE COUNTRY. 41 



of the last-mentioned being known to associate with 

 the true zebra. 



All of the three species have the low, thick 

 withers of the ass, and in many respects strongly 

 resemble that patient servant of man. Still, in form 

 they do not much look like one another ; the true 

 zebra being very heavily and muscularly built, the 

 quagga quite the reverse, while the petsi takes an 

 intermediate place between both. To a judge of 

 horseflesh, the limbs of all these species, particularly 

 from the knee and houghs down, must be subjects 

 of admiration, for in no other language can they be 

 described better, than by saying that they are simply 

 perfect in form for work and endurance. 



The quagga, I know, can be broken to harness ; 

 the petsi, I have heard, and believe, can ; but I very 

 much doubt whether the true zebra could ever be 

 subdued or tamed sufficiently to transform it into a 

 draught animal. This is much to be regretted ; for 

 it has been gifted in no ordinary degree with three 

 great virtues speed, endurance, and a total dis- 

 regard for variations of temperature, which are 

 very great in its habitat, at different seasons of the 

 year. 



After so long a deviation from the actual work in 

 hand, I will now return to it. Having despatched 

 the remainder of the meat to camp, and the supply 

 being more than sufficient for present wants, with 

 only one attendant I made a detour of several miles 



