THE MULE. 191 



Tlieir pace is slower than that of the horse, notwithstand- 

 ing the many reports published as to their being equal in speed 

 to him. " I have seen it asserted that there were mules that 

 had been known to trot a mile in harness in three minutes. 

 In all my experience I have never seen anything of the kind, 

 and do not believe the mule ever existed that could do it. It 

 is a remarkably good horse that will do this, and I have never 

 yet seen a mule that could compare for speed with a good 

 roadster. I have driven mules, single and double, night and 

 day, from two to ten in a team, and have handled them in 

 every way that it is possible to handle them, and have in my 

 charge at this time two hundred of the best mule teams in the 

 world, and there is not a span among them that could be forced 

 over the road at the rate of a mile in four minutes. It is true 

 of the mule that he will stand more abuse, more beating, more 

 straining and constant dogging at him, than any other animal 

 used in a team. But all the work you can get out of him, 

 over and above an ordinary clay's work, you have to work as 

 hard as he does, to accomplish." 



The mule is one of the very best beasts of burden man pos- 

 sesses, and for this purpose he is employed chiefly in moun- 

 tainous countries, and those in which wheel carriage cannot be 

 resorted to. He is also greatly in request for transport 

 purposes during war ; his patience, robustness, and endurance 

 of hardship and fatigue, rendering him particularly well adapted 

 for the exigencies of field service. The mules of Asia Minor, 

 Syria, Cyprus and Mexico, are famous as pack animals. 



As is known, the mule is a hybrid between the horse and 

 the ass. That which is the produce of the male ass and the 

 mare horse is the most valuable, and that which is generally 

 bred ; that between the horse stallion and the mare ass is 

 perhaps more gentle in disposition, but is not nearly so hardy. 

 The " henny," or " hinny," as this creature is termed, has 

 generally the legs and feet, and mane and tail of the horse 



