42 ANIMAL LIFE IN AFRICA 



apparently half asleep. The lions must have been clearly 

 visible to them. Incidents such as this illustrate the 

 perfect understanding which the wild creatures have of 

 each other's ways, and how far man is from a clear 

 comprehension of them. 



We once lost all the horses from Sabi Bridge for two 

 days, owing to their being stampeded by a solitary zebra, 

 which galloped off, followed by them. Although they 

 kept close behind him, it was remarkable that when at 

 length discovered, nearly twenty miles away, they were 

 vigorously opposing all his efforts to come close to and 

 join them. There are many cases, however, of single 

 runaway horses being found in conjunction with troops 

 of zebras, and this is still more true of mules, which seem 

 to have a better understanding with them. In fact, it is no 

 easy matter to keep mules from stampeding when there 

 are zebras about, and several have been permanently 

 lost in the low country in this manner during the last few 

 years. A horse will often come home again after his 

 escapade, but a mule very seldom. Therefore, any one 

 travelling with transport animals where zebras are 

 numerous would do well to see that the native herds 

 attend to their duties when the animals are at grass. 



I have once heard of a perfectly white animal having 

 been seen. Amongst a herd of Burchell zebra was 

 noticed an animal which appeared to be a white mule or 

 donkey, but which, on closer inspection, proved to be a 

 zebra, so far as could be seen, quite devoid of all markings. 



The African wild ass inhabits the dry countries to 

 the east of the Nile, from about 17 to 5 north latitude. 

 It is grey in colour, with black markings on the legs and 

 back. Two local races are recognized. 



