210 



circle around their calves, with their horns tunicd 

 towards their assailant, await his attack in that posi- 

 tion, and not unFrequently destroy him. r 

 The mares, when there are a number of them, 

 place themselves in the same manner, though in an 

 inverted order, around their colts, and attempt to re- 

 pel their enemy with their heels, but one of them 

 almost always becomes a victim to this proof of ma- 

 ternal love. All those animals that have not young 

 on the approach of the pagi attempt to save them- 

 selves by flight ; the ass alone, from his want of 

 speed, is compelled to defend himself with his heels, 

 which frequently proves successful ; but should the 

 pagi notwithstanding his efforts leap upon his back, 

 he immediately throws himself on the ground and 

 endeavours to crush him, or runs with all his force 

 against the trunks of trees, holding his head down so 

 as not to dislocate his neck. By these means he 

 generally succeeds in freeing himself from his assail- 

 ant, and there are but few asses destroyed by an 

 enemy so frequently fatal to much stronger animals. 



Notwithstanding his ferocity, the pagi never ven- 

 tures to attack a man, although he is continually' 

 hunted and persecuted by the latter. He is natu- 

 rally a coward, and a woman or child will make him 

 fly and abandon his prey. He is hunted with dogs 

 trained for the purpose, and when hard pressed by 

 them, either leaps upon a tree, seeks an asylum upon 

 a rock, or, placing himself against the trunk of some 

 large tree, defends himself in a furious manner, kill- 

 ing many of his enemies, until the hunter, watching 

 his opportunity, slips a noose around his neck. As 



