———- nen 
7 
other fantastic shapes, resembles the ruins of a world. Intersected by yawning chasms, it presents an impassable barrier ; but its wild 
fastnesses afford shelter to various broken tribes, who have been driven by war's alarms from the land of their inheritance. Amongst 
the savage nations of Southern Africa, as elsewhere, a principle of extinction has for ages past been in active operation. Regions, now 
silent and deserted, once contained their busy throng, whose numbers and strength have been gradually brought down by war and want. 
Whole tribes have been rooted out from their hereditary homes, and have either disappeared from off the face of the earth, or pursued 
by the “gaunt and bony arm” of famine, still wander with fluctuating fortunes over these measureless tracts. For hundreds of miles, 
therefore, the eye is not greeted by the smallest trace of human industry, nor by any vestige of human habitation—the wild and inter- 
minable expanse ever presenting the same appearance—that of one vast, uninhabited solitude. 
Amongst the many peculiarities presented by the animal creation of Southern Africa, are three distinct and elegant species of the 
solid-ungulous family, which belong exclusively to that quarter of the world. The true Zebra, or Daow, which is styled by the Cape 
Colonists, the Wilde Paard or Wilde Horse, is exclusively confined to mountainous regions, dwelling in “ craggy castles on the hill top,” 
from which it rarely, if ever, descends ; but the extensive and sequestered plains above referred to, abound with two other members of 
the equine genus, which are still more closely allied to the horse, and are never to be found, but in the lowlands. These are the 
Quagga, delineated in the annexed portrait, and the Striped or Bonti Quagga, better recognized as Burchell’s Zebra. The former, it will 
be remarked, is of a fulvous bay complexion, streaked or brindled with brown over the head, neck, and forehand. Burchell’s Zebra, 
again, is adorned over every part, the legs alone excepted, with broad black single or double bands, detached from a dorsal stripe, and 
elegantly contrasted with a pale yellow ground; whilst the veritable Zebra, which was known to the Romans under the title of Hippo- 
tigris, is completely covered with alternate stripes of pure black and white, contmued singly over the fetlocks, down to the very coronets, 
It is now some years since the Zoological Gardens were first graced by living specimens of each of these elegant exotic species, 
some of which have even bred successfully in their captive state; but the period is not very remote, when the greatest confusion existed 
in the minds of Natural Historians, respecting the external distinctions of the African solid-ungula. Disguised in a tail borrowed from 
the rump of the domestic ass, the subject of the annexed portrait sat for its picture to M. Buffon, and may be found in the voluminous 
works of that eminent author, doing duty for a female Zebra! Even the Baron Cuvier has fallen into the error of describing the 
Quagga to be the proprietor of an asinine tail—a mistake which is the more surprising, since it is stated by the same author in his 
“Régne Animal,” that “ among the equipages occasionally exhibited in the gay season in Hyde Park, and other fashionable places of resort, 
may be seen a curricle drawn by two Couaggas, which seem as subservient to the curb and whip as any well-trained horses,” Hereafter, 
in its proper place, a similar fact will be adduced with regard to the Zebra or Wilde Paard, many of which beautiful species are annually 
taken in the mountainous districts of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and shipped to the Isle of France, where they are not 
uncommonly driven in harness. 
The geographical range of this species of the Quagga does not appear to extend to the northward of the river Vaal. The animal 
was formerly extremely common within the Colony, but vanishing before the strides of civilization, is now to be found in very limited 
numbers, and on the borders only. Beyond, on those sultry plains which are completely taken possession of by wild beasts, and may 
with strict propriety be termed the domains of savage nature, it occurs in interminable herds; and although never intermixing with its 
own more elegant congeners, is almost invariably to be found ranging with the white-tailed Gnoo, and with the Ostrich, for the society 
of which bird especially, it evinces the most singular predilection, Moving slowly across the profile of the ocean-like horizon, uttering 
a shrill barking neigh, of which its name forms a correct imitation, long files of Quaggas continually remind the early traveller of a 
rival caravan on its march. Throughout the Scriptures, the inspired poets make frequent allusion to the similar habits of the Asiatic 
congeners of this animal; and in the vivid and startling picture of the effects of drought, given in the book of Jeremiah, we are told 
that “the wild asses did stand in the desolate places ; they snuffed up the wind like dragons, and their eyes did fail because there was 
no grass.” Bands of many hundreds are thus frequently seen during their migration from the dreary and desolate plains of some portion 
of the interior which has formed their secluded abode, seeking for those more luxuriant pastures, where, during the summer months, 
various herbs thrust forth their leaves and flowers, to form a green carpet, spangled with hues the most brilliant and diversified. 
In its native character, the Quagga appears to be social and peaceable, living carelessly, sometimes in troops not exceeding 
twenty or thirty, but oftener in much larger communities. The average standard both of the males and females, is from twelve to 
thirteen hands. Compact, strong, and muscular, with clean bony limbs, and a foot which might serve as a model to the veterinary 
student, this petit cheval cannot fail forcibly to remind us im all its form and’ proportions, of the horse in miniature. Doubtless, it might 
readily be subdued by bit and bridle, and if not capable of universal distribution, would in its native regions at least, where food and 
climate are congenial, reward fourfold by its services, the trouble attendant upon its education. Foals have indeed occasionally been 
reared, when thrown accidentally into the hands of the peasant; but no systematie attempt has yet been made on the part of the indo- 
lent Colonists, to reduce the species to a state of domesticated subjection; and the carnivorous savage tribes occupying the regions 
which now form its habitat, regard it in common with the rest of the animal creation, only as furnishing them with an ample repast 
when slain. By the roving clans of Bechuana huntsmen, and the voracious Bushman hordes, its disgustingly oily and yellow flesh is 
even esteemed a delicacy; and the Lion, which invariably follows the tide of migration towards new pastures, is not unfrequently driven 
from his prey at the assegai’s point, by these two-legged devourers of “carrion. The flesh is never used by the Colonists, except for the 
purpose of feeding their tame Bushmen, but the hides are valuable for making sacks to contain grain; and the thicker portions which 
cover the angle of the hocks, are greatly esteemed for the manufacture of shoe-soles. 
“ When we consider,” observes M. Cuvier, “that this species is capable of highly beneficial services in a domesticated condition ; 
that. its natural courage is evinced in its wild state by the manner in which, according to the report of travellers, it repels the Hyena 
and the Wolf—au endowment which would be of great value to the animal if completely subjected to man; that this species is an 
