OSTRICH. 
469 
the ligature, there flows from the wound a mixture 
of fat and blood, which those people consider as 
one of their greatest dainties. 
While Mr. Adanson was residing at the factory 
of Podor, on the bank of the river Niger, he amused 
himself by placing two little blacks on the back of 
a tame ostrich. This creature, together with a small 
one of the same species, had been in the factory 
about two years, and though young were nearly at 
their full size. The bird no sooner felt the weight 
of the negroes than it ran as fast as possible several 
times round the village, and it was found impossible 
to stop it otherwise than by obstructing the passage. 
Pleased with the sight, he resolved to try the 
strength of the small one, upon which he mounted 
a full grown negro, while two others rode the 
largest. “The burthen,” says our author, “ did not 
seem too much for them ; at first they went at a 
sharp trot ; but when they became heated, they ex- 
panded their wings and moved with such swiftness 
that they scarcely seemed to touch the ground.” 
In the thirty-ninth chapter of the book of Job, 
the author beautifully describes the ostrich, “which 
leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in 
the dust ; and forgetteth that the foot may crush 
them, or that the wild beast may break them. She 
is hardened against her young ones as though they 
were not hers : her labour is in vain without fear ; 
because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither 
hath he imparted to her understanding.” 
