THE ZEBRA. 



milk, and thus a fupply of pork and bacon might be tranfmitted, for the ufe 

 of the mips which touch at the Cape for provisions. 



As the Hottentots hunt the Zebra merely for the fake of its flem, which 

 they eat, the deftrudion of the animal has ever been the objeci of the 

 huntfman's purfuit; it is no wonder then, that the poor creature lhould 

 always consider man as its foe, inftead of its protector ; and, when it happens 

 to be taken alive, it is not surprising that it mould be perverfe and 

 mifchievous, and refufe obedience to that being from which it has fo feldom 

 experienced mercy. Every animal has an instinctive knowledge of its 

 enemies, and doubtlefs this has contributed to prevent the Zebra from 

 resigning its liberty, where it has been taught, by experience as well as 

 inftincl:, that it has nothing to hope for, but every thing to dread. Cautious 

 and vigilant in the extreme, he fufFers nothing to approach him, and, as if he 

 were confcious that his beauty renders him an object of desire, he instantly 

 takes the alarm at the light of man, and flies from his purfuer with 

 incredible velocity. 



The Zebra is only found in Africa, and is unknown to the other quarters 

 of the globe ; it is, notwithstanding, capable of existing in any climate not 

 intenfely cold. 



The period of its gestation is uncertain, but it is probable that it 

 refembles the Afs in this particular. Its voice bears fome similitude to the 

 confufed barking of a MaftifF Dog. 



Mr. Pennant thinks it probable, that the Zebra was known to the Romans, 

 as it is found in the fame country with the Giraffe, or Camelopardalis, which 

 was early introduced into their mows. Martial feems to hint at it, by his 

 pulcher onager ; and Oppian particularly defcribes the flripes diverging from 

 the black lift on the back. 



