MULES. 17"^ 



" As to my opinion of the value of mules, I shall 

 always appear extravagant. I have scarce a horse on 

 my estates for agricultural purposes, nor would I ac 

 cept of one as a gift, (except for road wagons,) of which 

 I have no need, as my property lies on navigable 

 water. Nothing ever was so good as mules for the 

 uses of this, our southern country ; they live longer, eat 

 less, and above all, are better suited to our slaves, than 

 any other animal could possibly be: their strength, 

 patient endurance of privation and hardships, slender 

 pasturage, exposure — and in short, all those ills to 

 which animals are subject where slaves are their 

 masters, give to mules a decided preference in all the 

 agricultural States of the South. 



" I do not know of any being trained to the pur- 

 poses of pleasure carriages. They are often ridden, 

 and go pleasantly, with great surety of foot. I have 

 no doubt but that in time, they will generally be used 

 for carriages, and would particularly suit mail coaches ; 

 they are very swift, and have great durability in 

 travelling." 



The Knight of Malta, mentioned by Mr. Custis, was 

 unquestionably the first Maltese Jack ever brought to 

 the United States. The second came in the frio^ate 

 Constitution, on her return I think, from her first cruise 

 in the Mediterranean ; and I have understood was sold 

 in the district of Columbia, or one of the adjoining 

 States. Since that time a number have been intro- 

 duced by officers of the navy from Malta, and the large 

 Spanish breed from Minorca and Majorca. From the 

 Mount Vernon and those stocks, some fine mules have 

 been bred in the middle States, and probably farther 

 South. A few valuable Maltese Jacks have been 

 imported in merchant ships. 



