18 NATURAL HISTORY, 
In his natural ftate, he is fleet, fierce and formida- 
ble, but when dometticated, he is the moft gentle of 
all animals, and affumes a patience and {ubmiflion even 
humbler than his fituation. He is very temperate in 
eating, and contents himfelf with the refufe of the 
vegetable creation. As to drink, he is extremely deli- 
cate, for he will flake his thirft at none butthe cleareft 
brooks, and thofe to which heis moftaccu‘tomed. When 
young, he is f{prightly, and tolerably handfome; but 
age deprives him, as well as all other parts of animat- 
‘...ed nature, of thofe qualities; he then becomes flow, 
“<*situpid and obftinate. ‘The fhe afs goes eleven months 
2 
“with young, and never produces more than one ata 
time. ; : 
‘The ingenious’ author of the Spec?acle de la Na- 
ture, obferves, in fubftance, that though he is not 
poffeffed of very fhining qualities, yet what he enjoys 
are very folid; that the want of a noble air hath its 
compenfation ina mild and modeft countenance; that 
his pace is uniform, and, although he is not extraor- 
dinary fwift, he purfues his journey a long. while 
without intermiffion ; and that he is perfectly well 
centented with the firft thiftle that prefents itfelf in 
his way; in fhort, that this: indefatigable animal, 
without expenfé or pride, replenifhes our Cities and 
villages with all forts of commodities. i 
‘With refpect to their general difpofition, the fame 
author informs us, ‘** That the afs refembles thofe 
people who are naturally heavy and pacific, whofe 
underftanding and capacity are limited to hufbandry 
or commerce, who proceed in the fame track without 
difcompofure, and complete, with a ferious and pofi- 
tive air, whatever they have once undertaken.” 
The medicinal virtues of affes milk, in reftoring»~ 
health and vigour to our debilitated conftitutions, ~ 
might alone entitle this harmled{s and inoffenfive ani- 
mal to a kinder return, than it generally experiences 
from their inhuman and ungrateful mafters. 
