30 THE MULE. 



brought to the Cape, was accurately measured, and though 

 it had not reached full maturity, was more than seventeen 

 feet high; from the head to the shoulder seven feet, from 

 the shoulder to the tail seven feet, and the hind-legs shorter 

 by two feet than the fore. 



It is utterly incapable of defence, except in flight; its 

 horns are blunt, its teeth fitted only for eating vegetables, 

 and its legs it cannot use in kicking, so that it is very timo- 

 rous, and flies from every enemy. It is not of any service 

 to man. The shortness of its back, and the steep descent 

 from the shoulders to the rump (being three feet in seven) 

 combined with its awkward motion render it unfit for 

 riding, and still more so for carrying burdens ; yet it is 

 sought after through curiosity, and has been sent from 

 Africa to Europe, and the remotest parts of Asia; the 

 strangeness of its form, and the beauty of its spotted skin, 

 are too alluring to be resisted. The skin of one has been 

 presented to Trinity College, Dublin, in whose museum it 

 may be seen very well stuffed and preserved. 



THE MULE. 



THIS hardy and useful animal is the offspring of the horse 

 and the ass ; and, being uniformly barren, furnishes an 

 indisputable proof that the two species are perfectly distinct. 



The common Mule is very healthy, and will live about 

 thirty years. It is found very serviceable in carrying 

 burthens, particularly into mountainous countries, where 

 horses are not so sure footed. 



On this account people of the first quality in Spain are 

 drawn by Mules, where fifty or sixty guineas is no uncom- 

 mon price for one of them. Their manner of going down 

 the Alps, the Andes, &c. is very extraordinary. In these 

 passages, on one side, are steep eminences, and, on the 

 other, frightful abysses ; and, as they generally follow the 

 direction of the mountain, the road, instead of lying in a 

 level, forms at every little distance deep declivities of 

 several hundred yards downward. These can only be de- 

 scended by Mules ; and the animals seem fully sensible 

 of the danger, and of the caution that is to be used in 

 such descents. Having perpared lor this enterprise, they 

 place their fore feet in a posture, as if they were stopping 

 themselves, and tiien put their hind feet together, as if 



