Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-05-04
ZEBRAS BETTER THAN MULES
An Experiment in Generalization
Which Is Being Carried on in
AfrlCa.

An Experiment in Generalization
Which Is Being Carried on In
Africa.
The prevalent notion about the zebra
is the $50 untamable as to be Of no
flsSSI use to man. Experiments
WI AIT this is an erroneous notion.
~ @umber of instances it has been re-
VsrAto docility in Europe, but no at
tempt has been made to impress it into
the serv'ccable 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 Tu'i, in Mashonaland, have actu-
ally eight zebras in harness and four Of
them regularly employed in drawing
a coach These animals We're 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 SccdeSberg are
thus far satisfied and will endeuvor to
substitute ZebraS for mules in dragging
their coaches. These very graceful
striped quadrupedS are no doubt tleeter
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 ailmcnt of
| South Africa vaguely called horse sick
ness. which in a single night in low
country kills a horse or mule turned
| out on the vcidt. The loss from this
cause is a heavy item in the expense of
a South African livery stable. 1t is
| found that the zebra does not kick and
| is gently amcnable to the rein by hay
| ing a 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-brceding with horses The
result will be awaited with conSdcra-
BILE interest. A new hybrid OF hopeful
stamina and qualities for harness and
the saddle may confidently be expected
and perhaps the somher lmcouthnesS OF
the cross between the horse and the
ass will not be overcome and replaced
by gr;,ccS of form and charms of color
1t seems strange that it should be left
until to-day to essay the domcSticatiOn
| Of the ZcDrl. 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 80 sc
far back in geological time as to Sug
gest that the horse had its origin on the
American continent. But when Column
bus landed the horse was unknown and
all the troops OF wild courscrS have
descended from domcSticated breeds
which have escaped from control
South Afiic:, produces not only the 70
bra, but the Guagga and the d,law, con
geners which might also prove of USE
in crossing. Both have been domesti
Gated, but the experiment has not beer
carried to practical utility. The oppor
tunity to introduce the quagga as F.;
hybrid or pure bred has almost beef
lost. as the animal is either extinct o.
very scarce. The dauw is adapted t.
life ON the plains and still roams il
great herds north of the Orange river
stage of electric lighting than the En-
glish metropolis.