THE DAM FOR HINNIES. 87 



into disuse and got a bad name. It may, however, well be 

 doubted whether, in the great demand and inadequate sup- 

 ply of handsome, clever ponies suited for carrying boys, 

 young ladies, and timid, or valetudinarian, or aged persons, 

 who require horse exercise, it might not prove an exceed- 

 ingly paying speculation to import a few of the very finest 

 and largest-sized Maltese or Arabian female asses, — which, 

 by the way, command no price as compared with the jacks, 

 and to breed from them to the best and highest bred, un- 

 dersized thorough-bred stallions. We have seen abroad 

 in past years one or two hinnies, with ears but little larger 

 than those of a coarse pony, with long thin manes, full 

 tails, sleek, shining coats, which were altogether beautiful 

 animals. They have a good deal of spirit, and the patience, 

 without the stubbornness, of the ass. If, however, it has 

 not been a matter of profit heretofore to raise hinnies, it 

 has been far otherwise in the case of mules. So highly were 

 they esteemed by the Eomans, that we are informed by 

 Pliny, that Quintus Axius, a Roman Senator, paid four hun- 

 dred thousand sesterces, equivalent to thirteen thousand dol- 

 lars, for a male ass, peculiarly qualified by size, beauty and 

 spirit for the propagation of mules. 



They are now, probably, more largely bred and more 

 highly prized in the United States than in any other coun- 

 try in the world, unless it be South America. As draught 

 beasts, beasts of burden, and for field labor, thej^ surpass 

 any other animal in the world ; and the use of them allows 

 the noble horse to be applied to his own proper uses, — the 

 saddle or speedy light carriage draught, — and not to field 

 labor or the rude and sordid drudgerv to which he is too 

 often degraded, and to which he is wholl}^ unfitted. It is 

 claimed for the mule, and rightly, that he can do his own 

 work, that is to say, field work, heavy teaming, and car- 

 rying pack -burdens, all, as well as the horse, — tlie last 



