FLESH FOOD FROM MAMMALS. 10^ 



sold for such a purpose. Young horses are quite out of 

 the question, unless, as in the case of Mrs. Godwin's 

 horse, they by an accident are rendered unfit for work 

 and useless. The slaughtering for the market will there- 

 fore, in England, be confined to the old and worn-out 

 horses that are past work. 



Ass's Flesh. — Mules and asses are numerous in many 

 countries, but although in some parts of Europe their 

 flesh is eaten, it is not usual. In Spain there are about 

 2,500,000 mules and asses, in the United States about 

 1,500,000, in Italy and Morocco each about 1,000,000, and 

 in the South American States from one to two millions. 

 The Greeks ate donkeys, and we must suppose they had 

 their reasons for it. The flesh of the ass is still esteemed 

 a delicacy in some countries. The northern climate, 

 pasturage, and freedom may have some effect on the flesh. 

 The Roman peasants found the flesh of the ass palatable, 

 and the celebrated Maecenas having tasted it, introduced 

 it to the tables of the great and rich ; but the fashion of 

 eating it lasted no longer than his life. Galen compares 

 the flesh of the ass to that of the stag. The flesh 

 of the wild ass is said to be very delicate and good, 

 but when killed in a tame state it is hard and unfit for 

 food. 



The skin of the wild ass is used for making a gela- 

 tine, which, scented with musk, is prescribed in chest 

 diseases. It is sold in flat, rectangular, reddish pieces, 

 translucid, and, like all the substances of great value, 

 is wrapped by the Chinese in paper of vermilion colour. 

 A gelatine made with cow-skin, is often substituted. 



The wild ass, called Koulan by the Persians, is still 

 common in many parts of Central Asia, from 48° 

 North latitude to the confines of India. The Persians 

 and Tartars hold its flesh in high esteem, and hunt it in 

 preference to all other descriptions of game. Olearius 

 assures us that he saw no fewer than thirty-two wild 

 asses slain in one day by the Shah of Persia and his 

 court, the bodies of which were sent to the royal kit- 

 chens at Ispahan ; and we know from Martial that the 



