25 



whole, they might be too light for agricultural pur- 

 poses, though they might, with advantage, be more 

 largely employed in light van work. 



ARMY TRANSPORT PURPOSES. 



The work for which mules are apparently best 

 adapted is for army transport. Very large num- 

 bers were bought from the United States and else- 

 where for this purpose during the recent war in 

 South Africa, and were sold for highly remunera- 

 tive prices by the breeders, ranging from £2^ to 

 £a^o. The qualifications of mules for this purpose are 

 many. They are very easily kept in the matter of 

 food, and would thrive in places where ordinary horses 

 would starve ; they are very durable and compara- 

 tively free from sickness ; they withstand the dreadful 

 attacks of the tsetse fly better than horses, as their 

 hides are hard and tough. They move along more 

 rapidly than horses at a walking pace, are very sure- 

 footed, and admirably adapted for picking their way 

 with mountain batteries over rough mountain tracks 

 and precipitous kopjes ; they can carry very heavy 

 weights, are good workers, and docile. As a rule, 

 mules live rather more than double the age of horses ; 

 they are generally less nervous, and can withstand 

 very sudden changes of heat and cold with com- 

 paratively little inconvenience and danger. For these 

 reasons, they are admirably suited for army transport 

 in foreign countries. It is held by some authorities 

 that mules, when overwhelmed by fear, have an 



