OF NATURAL HISTORY. 455 



to a certain diftance, blows through his noftrils, takes flight, and is 

 inftantly followed by the whole troop. He defcribes them as having 

 grofs heads and limbs, and long necks and ears. The inhabitants 

 tame them with eafe, and then train them to labour. In order to 

 take them, gins of ropes are laid in the places where they are known 

 to frequent. When caught by the neck, they loon (Irangle them- 

 felves, unlefs fome perlbn arrive in time to difentangle them. They 

 are tied to trees by the body and limbs, and are left in that fituation 

 two days without viduals or drink. This treatment is generally fuf- 

 iicient to render them more tradable, and they foon become as gen- 

 tle as if they had never been wild. Even when any of thefe horfes, 

 by accident, regain their liberty, they never refume their favage flate, 

 but know their mailers, and allow themfelves to be approached and 

 retaken. 



From thefe, and fimllar fadls. it may be concluded, that the dif- 

 pofitions of horfes are gentle, and that they are naturally difpofed to 

 aflbciate with man. After they are tamed they never forfake the 

 abodes of men. On the contrary, they are anxious to return to the 

 ftable. The fweets of habit feem to fupply all they have loft by 

 flavery. When fatigued, the manfion of repofe is full of comfort. 

 They fmell it at confiderable diftances, can diftinguifli it in the midft 

 of populous cities, and feem uniformly to prefer bondage to liberty. 

 By fome attention and addrefs colts are firft rendered tradable. 

 When that point is gained, by different modes of management, the 

 docility of the animal is improved, and they foon learn to perform 

 •with alacrity the various labours affigned to them. The domeflica- 

 tion of the horfe is perhaps the nobleft acquifuion from the animal 

 world which has ever been made by the genius, the art, and the in- 

 duftry of man. He is taught to partake of the dangers and fatigues 

 of war, and feems to enjoy the glory of vidory. He encounters 

 death with ardour and with magnanimity. He delights in the tu- 

 mult 



