THE WILD ASS. 



221 



Xcnojilion, who conducted his troops through the plains bordering the Singar, faithfully dcwribes 

 the country, and the quadrupeds and birds tliat inhabit it, except that the ostrich is not to be found 

 so for north, though it still tenants Arabia Deserta. The country was then a vast plain, as even as 

 the sea, and full of wormwood. If any other kinds of shrubs grew there they had an aromatic smell; 

 but no trees appeared. Of wild creatures the most numerous wore wild asses. When they urn- 

 pursued, having gained ground on the horses, from surpassing them in speed, they stood still, and, on 

 being come up to, they did the same again ; so that the horsemen could take them by no other means 

 but by dividing themselves into relays, and succeeding one another in the chase. The flesh of those 

 that were taken was like that of the red-deer, but more tender. 



According to Varro, the onager, as it was called, was easily domesticated, and the domesticated 

 breed never became wild again ; and Pliny states that it was always improved by crossing with wild 



THE WII.U ASS. 



animals. The Romans obtained these chiefly from Northern Africa, as objects of curiosity in the 

 exhibitions of the circus, and also for barbarous combats, in which the onager defended itself with ex- 

 traordinary strength. The young colts were accounted by epicures, like puppy dogs, a special delieiiey. 

 Thus, Martial says, " When the wild ass is tender, and is fed by the mother only, it is lulisio ; it has 

 this name when very young, and but for a short time." 



Burckhiirdt says : " Wild asses are met with in great numbers in Arabia Petrrea, near the Gulf of 

 Akaba. The Sherarat Arabs hunt them and eat their flesh, but not before strangers. They sell their 

 skins and hoofs to the pedlars of Damascus, and to the people of the Hauran. The hoofs furnish 

 materials for rings, which are worn by the peasants on their thumbs, or fastened under the armpits, as 

 amulets against rheumatism." The skins of the wild ass, according to Rauwolf, who saw many during 

 his journey from Tripoli to Aleppo, are made into scabbards for swords ami daggers. 



Sir Robert Ker Porter, on his route from Isfahan to Shiraz, had just entered the province of Fars, 

 when his greyhound suddenly started off in pursuit of an animal, which was stilted by the Persians in 

 enmpaiiy, from the glimpse they had of it, to be an antelope. The party immediately put spurs to their 

 bones, and, after an unrelaxed gallop of full three miles, they came up with the dog, which was then 



