The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-28
zEBRAS IN HARNESS.
experiments In Demonstrating the
Queer Little Animals.
They Are Thought to Be Better Than
D. mules for Certain Purposes in At
rica-Correotion of Mis-
taken Notion.

The prevalent notion about the zabr.
rs that it is so untamable as to be of no
practical use to man. Experiments
snow That this Is an erroneous notion.
IN number of instances 1t has been
reouced to docility in Europe, but no
actempt has been made to impress il
INTO the serviceable bondage with
mnlch we are familiar in the horse.
'Ihat complete tractability for the pur-
pose OF labor is not impossible, and is.
anoeed, hopeful, is being shown in the
d,ransVaal, where firm engaged in
pne coaching business between Pretoria
ana Fort Tuli, in Mashonaland, have
actually eight zebras in harness and
four of them regularly employed in
drawing a coach. These animals were
capturned by the lasso, and in a few
months four had been so trained that
they were perfectly quiet and willing
IN harness, while the others are becom-
ing infatuated to restraint and will in
time be fully under control. Fl.
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 feeter of foot than the
mule and perhaps as swiftas the horse,
but there is an important superiority
over both that they possess. They en-
JOY absolute immunity from that verv
fatal ailment of South Africa vaguely
called horse sickness, which in single
night in low country kills horse or
mule turned out on the veldt. The loss
from this cause is heavy item in the
expenses of South African livery
stable. 1t is found that the zebra
does not kick and is gently amenable
to the rein by having soft mouth. A
tendency to bite is the one vice they
have, but this they cease to practice
when not afraid of being hurt.
1t is the intention of the firm to at
tempt cross-breeding with horses. The
result will be awaited with consider
able interest. A new hybrid of hope
full stamina and qualities for harness
or the saddle may confidently be ex-
pested, and perhaps the somber I'M
couthness of the cross between the
horse and ass will be overcome and re-
placed by graces of form and charms
OF color. 1t seems strange that 1T
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 suggest that the
horse had its origin on the American
continent But when Columbus land
ed 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 zebra, but the
quagga and the dauw, congeners
which might also prove of use in cross
ing. Both have been domestica ted,
but the experiment has not been car
ried to practical utility. The oppor-
tunity to introduce the quagga as a
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.