i6 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



If they were Hopping themfelves ; they then alfo put 

 their hind feet together, but a little forward, as if they 

 were going to lie down. In this attitude, having taken 

 as it were a furvey of the road, they Hide down with the 

 fwiftnefs of a meteor. In the mean time, all the rider 

 has to do is to keep himfelf fall on the faddle without 

 checking the rein, for the lead motion is fufficient to 

 diforder the equilibrium of the Mule; in which cafe they 

 both unavoidably perifh. But their addrefs in this rapid 

 defcent is truly wonderful ; for in their fwifteft motion, 

 when they feem to have loft all government of them- 

 felves, they follow exactly the different windings of the 

 road, as if they had previoufly fettled in their minds the 

 route they were to follow, and taken every precaution for 

 their fafety. In this journey, the natives place them- 

 felves along the fides of the mountains ; and holding by 

 the roots of the trees, animate the beafts with ihouts, 

 and encourage them to perfevere. Some Mules, after 

 being long ufed to thefe journies, acquire a kind of repu- 

 tation for their fafety and fkill ; and their value rifes in 

 proportion to their fame. 



