COMPARISON WITH OTHER ANIMALS 291 



and have a wonderfully glossy coat. They are very 

 high at the shoulder, most comfortable to ride, and at 

 the same time quick in their paces. They were very 

 cheap too, costing (in 1878) from 10 to 20 dollars 

 (21. to 4/.). Their present price I do not know. The 

 donkeys in Lower Egypt, which I imagine have been 

 crossed a good deal with the Syrian, are also a fine 

 lot, and smart in their paces. My only acquaintance 

 with them has been in the towns Cairo, Alexandria, 

 Ismailia, &c. where the donkey-boys, who are as sharp 

 as needles, in shrill chorus almost insist on your riding 

 such world-renowned celebrities as Lord Wolseley,. 

 Lady Florence Dixie, Mrs. Langtry, Prince Bismarck, 

 &c., &c. 



Having sketched roughly the advantages and dis- 

 advantages of the different animals, it now remains for 

 us to decide on the one we consider the best for pack 

 transport. I do not think I am wrong in saying that, 

 on the whole, the preponderance of military opinion is 

 in favour of the mule, who has been called the king of 

 transport animals. I have worked with all of them, 

 and personally I have no hesitation in saying that, 

 under existing conditions, mismanaged as the camel is,, 

 and taking him all round, for military purposes he is 

 the best, though the donkey will run him very close. 

 His two advantages over the mule are that on an 

 average he will carry 50 to 80 Ib. more and walk 

 quicker, whereas the donkey has three or four over 

 him ; but we have no time now to go fully into this 

 question ; and as the mule is the generally acknow- 

 ledged favourite, we will endeavour to strike a com- 

 parison between him and the camel, who, though he 



T7 2 



