The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-04
STUDYING THE ZEBRA MULE.
Results of Crossing tho African Amin nj
with British Horses and Ponies.

Results of Crossing tho African Animal
with British Horses and Ponies.
Many hundreds OF thousands Of zebras roam
| over the plains OF tropical and sub-tropical
Africa. and the question has long been asked
whether the native wildness OF this very active
and intelligent animal may not be subdued
and the zebra fitted for tho uses OF man. In
| stances have been known whore the zebra has
! been tanned IN his native country. There 10 a
zebra at Zanzibar. or was while ago. which
an Arab had trained TO the saddle. and
he was as docile as good horse. DR.. Reichard.
Major Gambler and Nr. Won Uecbtritz are
among the explorers who have seen tho zebra
In service for saddle or draught purposes in
inner Africa: but these are exceptional cases.
and. on the whole, the zebra has been very
little utilized and not much has been done to
learn what part he may be made to play In the
economy OF civilization.
For some time past Prof. J. c. Ewart has
been conducting experiments In Wales In the
cross breeding OF q zebra with horses and
Shetland and Iceland ponies. The father OF
tho hybriGs now in tho professors charge is
male Burchcll's zebra This variety roams in
large herds over the plains north Of the Orange
River. 1t is one Of the several zebra families
and Ia rather larger than its cousins and Is
somewhat differently marked. Prof. Ewart
mules as the result OF his experiments.
The extent to which the hybriis differ from
their sire or dams varies. They are all unlike
their zebra father In their markings. in which
respect they more resemble the Somali type.
whose stripes are Amer and moro numerous
than those Of Burchslls zebra. They have
great many more stripes than their parent has
and have a tendency to produce q gridiron
pattern on the rump instead OF parallel lines,
1t remains to be seen how they will take to the
harness when they are old enough to wear 1t.
Capt. Lugard will be disappointed when he
hears OF the result OF ono OF the experimen
As far as Ii known. the zebra Is not affected by
the bite OF the tse-tse fly. which Is fatal to
horses. It 10 sheer folly to attempt to take a
caravan OF horses across any region infested
by this formidable insect. Lugard. who has
lived for years in Africa in prominent positions.
expressed the view that zebra mules might be
found to be immune from the bite OF the tse-tse
fly and in that case they might help to solve
the problem OF African transportation.
Prof. Ewart decided to try the expert
ment. and 30 he inoculated three OF his
hybrids with some OF the tse-tse organism.
Horses die very quickly OF the poison. and at
first the little mules seemed to be much more
resistant than horses to its effects. But they
all died In about eight weeks. and the prospects
are not bright that the zebra mule can be utl-
lized In the fly regions.
There are large parts OF Africa. however,
whore the fly Is not found. and the mule may
be found to he very useful In those districts.
But the facts accumulated in the past few years
seem to show that tho zebra himself has been
regarded as untamable without good reason,
and that there 10 future OF usefulness for him
In his native home.