510 HISTORY OF 



tit'ul, but at the same time, the wildest animal in nature. No- 

 thing can exceed the delicate regularity of this creature's colour, 

 or the lustrous smoothness of its skin ; but on the other hand, 

 nothing can be more timid or more untameable. 



The dziggtai is a light and nimble animal ; his limbs beautifully fine, with 

 flat shank bones, the knee joints long and straight, that seem peculiarly 

 formed for speed, which he possesses in an astonishing degree, as he runs 

 with the speed of the wind, carrying his head in an erect position, with the 

 nostrils expanded. His air betrays extreme energy, being wild, fiery, and un- 

 tameable in his disposition. The flesh of this animal is esteemed a great deli. 

 cacy by the Mongols, Tungooses, and other hordes, on the borders of the Great 

 Desert. Like the rest of the genus he is gregarious, and is seen in troops of 

 from twenty to thirty in number.and some have said even in herds of one hun- 

 dred. Like the horse, his character is pacific, and he never attacks other 

 animals. Each troop has a cliief, who watches over its safety, conducts its 

 general movements, and gives the signal of alarm, in cases of danger. This 

 signal is said to consist in leaping several timt-s round the object he dreads. 

 This temerity often occasions his death ; in which event the herd disperses, 

 in opposite directions, and become more easily a prey to the hunters. It is in 

 vain to attempt following the dziggtai on horseback, as it would quickly leave 

 the fleetest courser of the desert fai- behind. It is remarkable, that all means 

 to domesticate this animal have hitherto proved abortive, and this even when 

 taken young. They are considered by the natives as untameable ; for the 

 individuals which have been tried generally killed themselves in their exer. 

 tions to escape their thraldom. Pallas, however, thinks they might be sub. 

 dued by proper treatment. Indeed, it has been found, that all animals are 

 susceptible of some degree of domestication ; and if this were persisted in, tlie 

 dziggtai might eventually become a useful servant of man. Sonnini is of 

 opinion, that this species will become extinct, from the circumstance of man 

 not being able to subjugate them; and from their being aueh a favourite 

 delicacy with the Asiatics, 



The head and neck of the Quagga are dark blackish brown, the rest of a 

 clear brown growing paler below, and underneath is nearly white, as well as 

 the legs. The head and neck are striped with grayish white, longitudinal on the 

 forehead and temples, and transverse on the cheeks ; between the nnrnth 

 and eyes they form triangles ; there are ten bands on the neck ; the mane 

 is"blackish, short, much thicker than that of the zebra, commencing on the 

 forehead, and is, li.ke theirs, striped ; a longitudinal black band runs from 

 the termination of the mane along the spine, and loses itself in the tail, which 

 is like that of a cow, with a dark brown or black tuft of hair at its extremity. 

 The height of the quagga or couagga, is about four feet, or twelve hands, 

 at the withers. In his form, proportions, lightness of figure, and sniallness 

 of head and ears, he bears a greater resemblance to the horse than the zebra, 

 but his tail is like that of a cow. 



Quaggas associate in herds, frequently to the number of one hundred, in 

 the most solitary regions of Southern Africa. Delalando observed great 

 flocks of them at the mouth of the Grootvis river, which, during the night, 

 would approach near to his tent ; but they are never to be found in com- 

 pany with zebras, the species to wliich they aio must nearly allied in senerni 



