286 HOOFED ANIMALS 



it rapidly spread to other Eastern countries. Its intro- 

 duction into Europe may be considered comparatively 

 recent ; in England it was known in the time of King 

 Ethelred, when it was valued at about twelve shillings, a 

 considerable sum in those days ; in later years it fell into 

 disfavour, and was little used until the time of Queen 

 Elizabeth. In our own rather unfriendly clime the Ass is 

 ordinarily a spiritless and rather degraded animal, inured 

 to harsh treatment, hard labour, and the scantiest of fare, 

 in return for which it exhibits a stubbornness and obstinacy 

 that are proverbial. 



In Eastern countries, as Egypt and Syria, Persia, and 

 even India, the Ass attains a considerably larger size than 

 in Western countries. It is a far more valuable animal, 

 well groomed, better fed, with a corresponding good return 

 for the trouble and expenditure incurred. It is capable of 

 a good day's journey at a moderate pace, with a man on 

 its back, and it has a spirited demeanour and wide-awake 

 manner which render it a pleasant quadruped to deal with. 

 The breed is carefully selected, and a well-bred Ass will 

 fetch as much as forty pounds. Amongst the Jews the 

 most honourable persons rode on Asses, and it was 

 used for all purposes of agriculture and also as a pack 

 animal. Our Saviour made His triumphant entry into 

 Jerusalem upon a colt, the foal of an Ass, and the animal 

 selected was not typical of meekness, but honourable and 

 suitable in dignity to bear the King of Israel. 



In the Southern countries of Europe, Spain and Italy in 

 particular, and in the Andes regions of South America, the 

 Ass is an animal of considerable importance, its sure- 

 footedness making it a useful pack animal, where roads are 

 often practically non-existent, or at best poorly constructed. 

 In these countries the animal attains a considerably larger 

 size than in our own land ; in the United States also, 

 the Ass frequently attains a height of from fourteen to 

 sixteen hands. These large male animals, mated with female 

 horses, produce the crossbred animals that are known as 

 mules ; if the sexes are reversed the offspring is called a 

 ' hinny.' Mules are remarkably surefooted, and possess 

 special powers of endurance that make them invaluable for 



