The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-09-12
CUBA OXEN.

]
( compared with those Of OR own country
hut powerful, AMI tame, aid doeile, as III,
Boston trnrk horses in fact, they are uset
IN the city for the same purposes, us those
excellent animals. You may sometimes see
mule in dray or cart, hut usually the
trucking of Matan2as is performed bv CuJc
OTca.
Their Harvesting strikes me oddly, but
really am convinced that they can draw
more, and with much less Inconvenience tc
themselves, than If harnessed in Ire Amer
lean mode. | have taken pains to observe
the difference. In the American mode, the
ox-bow in strong Graughi, presses with
great force. against parts that are tender
and Heshy, against the passage for the
breath, and against bones and Joints of bu,
secondary strength. This pressure must in
some measure, affect the wind and if il
do not cxcoriate, it must render flesh and
skin tender; and we actually observe the
animals after resting awhile, shrinking from
the touch of the bow, rs Il blistcred breast
from the touch Of the nurse. If this is n
correct statement. it will account for the
greater indorili'y of tho American oxen.
and for, what | believe to he the honest
fact, their drawing less than those of Cuba.
The yoke, in the Spanish mode is made
fast TO the horns near the root behind. so
that it does not play backward and forward,
and gives to the oxen similar, but better
chance for backing, las in transfers phrase
it is caled.) / have been astonished at the
power of these oxen in holding back There
Is n short hill, in one of the streets of this
city. at nm angle nearly of 450. Standing
at the foot of it, ! saw cant and oxen ap-
preaching at the top with three hogsheads
of molasses, and the diver sitting on the
forward cask. The driver did rot so much
as leave his perch the oxen went Straight
and fearless over the pitch Of the hill, and
it seemed as if they must be crushed to
death. The animals squaued like a dog,
and rather slid, than walked to the bottom
OF the hill. Have we any animals that could
have done it And if they could, have we
any docile enough to have done it with the
driver in the cart? Thus superior is this
mode of yoking in holding back the load in
difficult places.
1t gives them still more decisive advan-
rase, in drawing. A fllet Of canvas is laid
on the font below the horns; and over this
tilet the cords pass, and the animal presses
against the most invulnerahle part of his
flame; his head, his neck, his whole frame
are exerted in the very manner in which he
exerts his mighty strength in combat. 1t
the natural way, therefore, of awaiting YOUR
self of this powerful and patient animal 10
the hest advantage,
There is third REGULARITY in managing
the OK in the Spanish mode, of the conven-
fence Of which, am better satisfied, than
of the humanity. The cartilage between
the nnSfrils at cd nDH &c foe
tened to the nose Of each animal, and they
are governed Ivy the reins, like horses, and
are stopped. or turned to The right or left,
or forced backward with all Imaginable
ease have seen no animal so fierce or
suIlcn, as not to lie pliable as a lamb, by
this check rein. The driver seldom speaks
TO them; thew intimate their pleasure by
the rem, and quicken their pace 10y the
goad, but never strike them. They, in
general, move quick; l have often seen
them on the trot and next to horses, they
seem the best disciplined animals | have
seen in the service of man. If the force of
habit and prejudice could so far give way
in our country, as TO make the experiment, |
think Yankees, with all their shrewdness,
might take valuable lesson from Span
iards.
In a team of four or six oxen, the for
ward pair, usually draws by long cord,
with space between them and the Test of
the team for another pair. This appears
uncouth, and ordinarily is, ! think, disad-
vantage. The reason given for it, belongs
to bad roads-tlat when the rest of the
team is swamped, the forward cattle may
draw them out. They have little 10 do
with chains, but draw by pole, fixed at
each end with ropes, or thongs of leather.
.4bbOt's Letters from Cuba.
OF all offences against English manners
which man commits, the three following
rrn tho rrrnntnst tHn MT Iii, milo To lie