Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-06-23
zzsRAs BETTER THAN MULES.
An Experiment In DcmesticatiOn Is Be
ing Carried Oh In Africa.


ing Carried o. In Africa.
zebra is that it is so untamable as to
be of no practical uHe to man. Ex-
periments show thai this is an erro-
neous notion. In nImber of instance
es it has been reduced TO docility in
Europe, but no attempt has been
made TO impress it into the service
able bondage with which we are fa-
miliar in the horse. That complete
tractability for the purpose of labor
is not impossible, and is, indeed,
hopeful, is being shown in the Trans
vaal, where firm engaged in the
coaching business between Pretoria
and Fort Tuli in Mashonaland, have
actually eight zebras in harness and
four of them regularly employed in
drawing a coach. These animals
were captured by the lasso, and in
few months four had been so trained
that they were perfectly quiet
and willing in harness, while
the others are becoming habi Cuated
to restraint and will in time be fully
under control. ii. Stephens. who
gives an account of the experiment
in the Field, says Messrs. Seedesberg
are thus far satisfied and will en-
deavor to substitute zebras for mules
in dragging their coaches. These
very graceful striped quadrupeds are
no doubt ileeter of foot than the mule
and perhaps as swift as the horse, but
there is an important superiority
over both that they possess. They
enjoy absolute immunity from that
very fatal ailment of South Africa
vaguely called horse sickness, which
in Il single night in low country kills
horse or mule turned out on the
veldt. The loss from this cause is a
heavy item in the expense of South
African livery stable. 1t is found
that the zebra does not kick and is
gently ameuable TO the rein by hav-
ing a soft mouth. a tendency to b to
IS the only vice they have, but this
they cease to practice when not
afraid of being hurt.
1t is the intention OF the firm to
attempt ross-breeding with horses.
The result will be awaited with con-
siderable interest. A new hybrid Uf
hopeful stamina and qualities for
harness or the s..ddle may confidently
be expected, end perhaps the somber
uncouthness Of the cross between the
horse and ass will be overcome and
replaced by grasses of form and
charms of color. II seems strange
that it should be left until to-day to
essay the domestication of the zebra.
The horse and ass have so long been
pressed into service that the original
habitat of both is disputed They
either come from ASIA or Africa.
But the fossil horse is also found in
America, and some of the types go so
far back in geological time as to sug-
gest that the horse had its origin on
the American continent. But when
Columbus landed the horse was UNI
known and all the troops of wild
coursers have descended from
domesticated breeds which have
escaped from control. South Africa
produces not only the zebra, but the
quagga and the dauw. congeners
which might also prove of use in
crossing. Both have been domesti-
Gated, but the experiment has not
been carried to practical utility. The
opportunity to introduce the quagga
as hybrid or pure bred has almost
been lost, as the animal is either
extinct or very scarce. The dauw is
adapted to life on the plains and still
roams in great herds north of the
Orange rivec.