ANIMALS. 501 



are previously prepared to catch them. The natives take them 

 chiefly upon account of their flesh, which they esteem as delici- 

 ous eating ; and for their skin-, of which that kind of leather is 

 made which is called shagreen.* 



• Wild asses live in herds, each consisting of a chief, and several mares and 

 colts, soraetimes to the number of twenty— Tliey are excessively timid, and 

 provident against danger. A male takes upon him the care of the herd, and 

 is always on the watch. If they observe a hunter who, by crei'piug along 

 the ground, has got near thorn, tlie centinel takes a great circuit, and goes 

 round and round him, as if discovering somewhat to be apprehended.— As 

 soon as the animal is satisfied, he rejdins the herd, which sets otf with great 

 precipitation. Sometimes his curiosity costs him his life; for he approaches 

 Bo near as to give the hunter an opportunity of shooting him. The senses of 

 hearing and smelling in these animals are most exquisite ; so that they are 

 not in general to be approached without the utmost difficulty. " The wild 

 asses did stand in the high places," says the prophet Jeremiah ; " they snuff- 

 ed up the wind like dragons " The Persians catch them, and break them for 

 the draught. They make pits, which tliey fill about half way up with plants ; 

 into these the asses fall witliout bruising themselves, and are taken thence 

 alive. When completely domesticated, they are very valuable, and sell at a 

 liigh price, being at all times celebrated for their amazing swiftness. 



The food of the wild asses is the saltest plants of the desert ; such as the 

 artriplex, kali, and chenopondium ; and also the bitter musky tribe of herbs. 

 'I'liey also prefer salt water to fresh.— This is exactly conformable to the his- 

 tory given of this animal in the book of Job ; for the words " barren land," 

 expressive of his dwelling, ought according to the learned Bochart, to be ren- 

 dered salt places. The hunters generally lie in wait for the asses near the 

 ponds of brakish water, to which they resort to drink. 



In the principal streets of Cairo, asses stand ready bridled and saddled for 

 hire, and answer the same purpose as the hackney coaches in London. The 

 person who lets them, accompanies his ass, running behind to goad him on, 

 and to cry out to those on foot to make way. They are regularly rubbed down 

 and washed, which render their coat smooth and glossy. Thoir food is the 

 same as that of the horse, usually consisting of chopped straw, barley, and 

 beans. They here seem, says M. Denon, to enjoy the plenitude of their ex- 

 istence : they are healthy, active, cheerful, and the mildest and safest animals 

 that a person can possibly have. Their natural pace is a canter or gallop ; 

 and without fatiguing his rider, the a.s8 will carry him rapidly over the large 

 [ilain.s which lie between ditt'erent parts of this straggling city. 



Sudden and unexpected internal impressions produce violent effects upon 

 tlie animal system. Strong emotions of mind may deprive a man of his in- 

 tellects, and of his life ; and there are many instances of perg(ms having died 

 in consequence of having received sudden intelligence either of a jnyful or 

 distressing nature. The animal resembles man in this respect : any thing 

 unexpei'ted throws them into astonishment, and as the circulation of the 

 blood is thereby at first accelerated, and afterwards suddenly stopped, the 

 animal falls dead to the ground. 



Host relates, in hi.H account of IVz and Morocco, that ho once saw at 

 Mcknes a live aes given to lions to bi- devoured by them.— Aa soon as the ass 



