345 
MS, 
They bate all tbe swiftness of horses, and neither 
declivities nor precipices can retard their career. 
When attacked, they defend themselves with their 
heels and mouth with such activity, that, without 
slackening their pace, they often maim their pur- 
suers. But the most remarkable property in these 
creatures is, that after carrying their first load, 
their celerity leaves them, their dangerous ferocity 
is lost, and they soon contract the stupid look and 
dulness peculiar to the asinine species. It is also 
observable, that these creatures will not permit 
a horse to live among them. They always feed 
together ; and, if a horse happens to stray into the 
place where they graze, they all fall upon him ; 
and, without giving him the liberty of flying, 
they bite and kick him till they leave him dead 
upon the spot. 
Such is this animal in its natural state, swift, 
fierce, and formidable ; but, in this state of tame- 
ness, the ass presents a very different picture ; the 
moment his native liberty is repressed, he seems 
entirely to give up all claims to freedom ; and he 
assumes a patience and submission even humbler 
than his situation. He is, in a state of tameness, 
the most gentle and quiet of all animals^ He 
suffers with constancy, and, perhaps, with courage, 
all the ill-treatment that cruelty and caprice are 
pleased to inflict. He is temperate with regard 
to the quantity and the quality of his provision. 
He is contented with the most neglected weeds ; 
and makes his humble repast upon what the horse 
and other animals leave behind. If he gives the 
preference to any vegetable, it is to the plantain j 
for which he is often seen to neglect every other 
herb in the pasture : but he is chiefly delicate with 
respect to his water ; he drinks only at the clearest 
brooks, and chiefly those to which he has beea 
accustomed. He drinks as soberly as he eats % 
to u it* y j 
