1859.] On ilie different Animals known as ivild Asses. 249 



imported into Sindh, rather than bred there ? Albeit the climate 

 should well agree with them. A correspondent informs me, that 

 " what are called Bokhara Asses are frequently brought to Peshawar. 

 They are very large and strong, and are both of the usual colour 

 and white. Of the latter, a friend of mine had three, viz. a male and 

 female, and their offspring. There was one of the usual colour, 

 larger than either of the two white ones, and I have some idea that 

 I had heard it said that he was over thirteen hands high ; but of 

 this I will not be positive, having paid no great attention. I think 

 they were not at all uncommon at Peshawar when the Kafilas were 

 getting through, and, as far as I remember, the price asked for one 

 was from 80 to 150 rupees. As for where they came from, that 

 I don't know in particular, except that they came with the Kafilas 

 of Horses from the north. The dark one I have mentioned was an 

 extremely fine specimen ; but my friend got him for (I think) 

 80 rupees, to use as a baggage Donkey, and as far as I recollect he 

 was sold cheap, because he declined to act as a stallion to mares, 

 and was therefore useless for the purpose of begettiDg mules." It 

 would appear, accordingly, that these fine Asses are foreign to 

 Sindb, and are mostly brought for the purpose of procreating mules ; 

 in which case she-Asses of the kind are probably scarcely known 

 there, and consequently the race can hardly be said to be introduced 

 into the country. It would nevertheless appear to be completely 

 naturalized in Bokhara. 



These superb Asses are bred and duly estimated in America ; 

 and it is time that they were introduced into the Australian colonies, 

 if not also those of S. Africa. In Capt. Marryatt's well known 

 * Diary in America,' the novelist describes a cattle-shew which he 

 attended in Lexington, Kentucky. The fourth day of the shew 

 was reserved for the exhibition of Asses. " Several were shewn 

 standing fifteen hands high, with head and ears in proportion : the 

 breed has been obtained from the Maltese Ass, crossed by those of 

 Spain and the south of France. Those imported, seldom average 

 more than fourteen hands high ; but the Kentuckiaus, by great 

 attention and care, have raised them up to fifteen hands, and some- 

 times even to sixteen. The prices paid for these splendid animals, 

 for such they really are, will prove how much they were in request. 



2 K 



