508 HISTORY OF 



Btionger, and better shaped. It is not yet well known whether 

 the animal called the Gimerro be one of these kinds ; or, as is 

 asserted, bred between the ass and the bull. While naturalists 

 affirm the impossibility of this mixture, the natives of the alpine 

 countries, where this animal is bred, as strongly insist upon its 

 reality. The common mule is very healthy, and will live above 

 thirty years, being found very serviceable in carrying burdens, 

 particularly in mountainous and stony places, where horses are 

 not so sure-footed. The size and strength of our asses is at 

 present greatly improved by the importation of Spanish jack- 

 asses; and it is probable v.e may come in time to equal the 

 Spaniards in breeding them, where it is not uncommon to give 

 fifty or sixty guineas for a mule ; and, indeed, in some moun- 

 tainous countries, the inhabitants cannot well do without them. 

 Their manner of going down the precipices of the Alps, or the 

 Andes, is very extraordinary ; and with it we will conclude their 

 history. In these passages, on one side, are steep eminences, 

 and, on the other, frightful abysses ; and, as they generally fol- 

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

 a level, forms at every little distance steep declivities, of several 

 hundred yards downward. These can only be descended by 

 mules ; and the animal itself seems sensible of the danger, and 

 the caution that is to be used in su';h descents. When they 

 come to the edge of one of these descents, they stop, without 

 being checked by the rider ; and, if he inadvertently attempts to 

 spur them on, they continue immoveable. They seem all this 

 time ruminating on the danger that lies before them, and prepar- 

 ing themselves for the encounter. They not only attentively 

 view the road, but tremble and snort at the danger. Having 

 prepared for the descent, they place their fore-feet in a posture 

 as if they were stopping themselves ; they then also put their 

 hinder-feet together, but a little forward, as if they were going 

 to lie down. In this attitude, having taken as it were a survey 

 of the road, they slide down with the swiftness of a meteor. In 

 the meantime, all the rider has to do is to keep himself fast on 

 the saddle, without checking the rein, for the least motion is 

 sufficient to disorder the equilibrium of the mide ; in which case 



we consider how far they excel the horse in travelling in a mountainous 

 country, the uiulo being able to tread securely where the former can hardJy 

 «tand. 



