TRAVELS IN 
not advanced above a hundred paces before 
flie gave the horfe fuch jerks, as made him fling 
back his heels, at which fhe would rear on her 
hind legs. This rcfradorinefs flopped my 
progrefs ; and to put an end to it, I refolved to 
mount upon the back of the animal. My 
companion and my Hottentots attempted in 
vain to diffuade me, by predicting feme mif- 
fortune : but the word that could happen to 
me was the being thrown ofF, and I w^as not 
to be diverted from my purpofe by the fear of 
a fall. I was alfo defirous of afcertaining 
whether it was poffible to break in this wild 
creature, which the learned reprefent to us as 
untameable, and that from mere prejudice, for 
it is far from beirtg fo in reality, as the reader 
will prefently fee ; and the favages, whofe tef-r 
timony on this point ought to have more 
weight than that of the naturalift, dqem it very 
fit for the faddle. 
To proreft me from the teetl^ of the ani- 
mal, I took care to muzzle her : fhe was then 
loofened from my horfe, and I vaulted on hex 
back. Pier refinance was flight, and lefs than 
that of a colt the firft time of being mounted. 
Soon fhe walked as quietly as my horfe, an^ 
thus 
