354 
Z£BRA, 
perceived any person approaching. That which 
was kept in the queen's irianegerie, at Buckingham 
Gate, was even more vicious than the former ; 
and the keeper who shewed it, took care to inform 
the spectators of its ungovernable nature. Upon 
Goldsmith's attempting to approach, it seemed 
quite terrified, and was preparing to kick, ap- 
pearing as wild as if just caught, although taken 
extremely young, and used with the utmost indul- 
gence. Yet still it is most probable that this 
animal, by time and assiduity, could be brought 
under subjection. As it resembles the horse in 
form, without all doubt it has a similitude of 
nature, and only requires the efforts of an indus- 
trious and skilful nation, to be added to the num- 
ber of our domestics. It is not now known, what 
were the pains and dangers which were first un- 
dergone to reclaim the breed of horses from savage 
ferocity ; these, no doubt, made an equal opposi- 
tion ; but, by being opposed by an industrious 
and enterprising race of mankind, their spirit was 
at last subdued, and their freedom restrained. It 
is otherwise with regard to the zebra ; it is the 
native of countries where the human inhabitants 
are but little raised above the quadruped. The 
natives of Angola, or Caffraria, have no other idea 
of advantage from horses but as they are good for 
food ; neither the fine stature of the Arabian 
courser, nor the delicate colourings of the zebra, 
have any allurements to a race of people who only 
consider the quantity of flesh, and not its confor- 
mation. The delicacy of the zebra's shape, or the 
painted elegance of its form, are no more regarded 
by such, than by tbe lion that makes it his prey. 
For this reason, therefore, the zebra may hitherto 
have continued wild, because it is the native of a 
country where there have been no successive efforts 
pade to reclaim it. All pursuits that have been 
