The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-04-27
Go be Continued.)
ZEBRAS BETTER THAN MULES

| An Experiment in DOmesticatfOn
Which Is Being Carried on I'm
Africa.
The prevalent notion about the zebra
is that it is SO untamable as to be of no
practical use to man. Experiments
show that this is an erroneous notion.
In a number of instances it has been re-
| duced to docility in Europe, but no at
| tempt has been made to impress it into
the Serviceable bondage with which we
are familiar in the horse. That COM
plete 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 actu-
ally eight zebras in harness and four of
them regularly employed in drawing
coach. These animals were captured
by the laSsO, and in a few months four
had been so trained that they were per-
fectly quiet and willing in harness,
while the others are becoming habitu-
ated to restraint and will in time be
fully under control. H. Stephens who
gives an account of the experiment in
the Field, says Messrs. Seedesberg are
thus far satisfied and will endeavOr to
substitute Zebras for mules in dragging
their coaches. These very graceful
striped quadrupeds are no doubt fleeter
of foot than the mule and perhaps as
swift as the horse, but there is an i'm
portant superiority over both that they
possess. They enjoy absolute i'm
munity from that very fatal ailment of
South Africa vaguely called horse sick
ness, which in a single night in low
country kills horse or mule turned
out on the veidt. The loss from this
cause is heavy item in the expense of
a South African livery stable. It is
found that the zebra does not kick and
is gently amenable to the rein by hay
ing soft mouth. A tendency to bite
is the one vice they have, but this they
cease to practice when not afraid of be-
ing hurt.
1t is the intention of the firm to at
tempt cross-breeding with horses. The
result will be awaited with considera-
BILE interest. A new hybrid of hopeful
stamina and qualities for harness and
the saddle may confidently be expected,
and perhaps the somber uncouthness of
the cross between the horse and the
itSS VIII uOI U6 overcome ana replaced
by graces of form and charms of color.
1t 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 it's origin on the
American continent. But when Column
bus landed the horse was unknown and
all the troops of wild coursers have
descended from domesticated breeds
which have escaped from control.
South Africa produces not only the ze-
bra, but the quagga and the duaw, con-
geners which might also prove of use
in crossing. Both have been domesti-
Gated, but the experiment has not been
carried to practical utility. The oppor-
tunity to introduce the quagga as q
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 river.