TO SAN ANTONIO. 
17 
head, by which he was drawn from the inclosure. 
Then commenced a series of kickings, and rearings, and 
boltings, a caution to all to keep out of the way, when, 
by the aid of several men, the victim was brought up 
to the stocks. Now came the most difficult part of 
the operation, that of getting him in. A mule is by 
nature timid, even when he has been used for years, 
and subjected to kind treatment; but if, when only 
half tamed, he is violently brought under control, this 
timidity is increased to actual fright, and he does not 
hesitate to ply his heels pretty vigorously. There is no 
species of defence belonging to the horse, no stubborn- 
ness peculiar to the ass, but are concentrated in the 
mule. He possesses the bad qualities of his paternal and 
maternal progenitors, with the good traits of neither. 
The gentleness, docility, and instinct of the horse, are 
not found in the race ; while the capricious obstinacy' 
of his paternal ancestor is exhibited to the fullest ex- 
tent. There is one trait of his character, however,, 
that should be noticed, and that is his power of endu- 
ring fatigue and privation, which renders him better 
fitted for the long inland journeys, where there is anj 
insufficiency of food and a scarcity of water, than the 
horse. 
The sight of the stocks, as might be supposed; 
would not tend to make a mule more tractable. Then 
begins the tug. The rear kick, the side kick, the for- 
ward plunge, are exhibited to the fullest extent. Seve- 
ral men get hold of the halter, while other ropes are 
passed round his rear, and thus he is finally drawn 
into the stocks. Bandages or straps are placed under 
V his body, by which he is raised from his feet. His 
VOL. I. 2 
