THE MULE.
THE MULE.
THE MULE.
THE MULE.
The common Mule sometimes lives to the age of thirty years. It is very useful in carrying burdens, particularly in very mountainous places, where horses are not so sure-footed. People of the first quality in Spain are drawn by Mules. Their going down the mountains of the Alps is very wonderful. They place their fore feet as if they were stopping themselves; they then put their hinder feet together, but a little forward, as if they were about to lie down. In this way, having taken a look over the road, they slide down with great swiftness. In the mean time, all the rider has to do is, tokeep himself fast on the saddle without checking the rein; for the least motion is sufficient to disorder the equal balance of the animal, in which case both would certainly be dashed to pieces. In their swiftest motion, when they seem to have lost all government of themselves, they follow exactly the different windings of the road, as if they had settled in their minds which way they were to go.