happy independence, he disdains the assistance of man, which tends only to his servitude. 3. In those boundless tracts, whether of Africa or New Spain, where he runs at liberty, he seems no way incommoded with the inconveniences to which he is subject in Europe. The continual verdure of the fields supplies his wants; and the climate that never knows a winter, suits his constitution, which naturally seems adapted to heat. 4. In those countries, the horses are often seen feeding in droves of five or six hundred. As they do not carry on war against any other race of animals, they are satisfied to remain entirely upon the defensive. They have always one among their number that stands as sentinel, to give notice of any approaching danger; and this office they take by turns. 5. If a man approaches them while they are feeding by day, their sentinel walks up boldly towards him, as if to examine his strength, or to intimidate him from proceeding; but as the man approaches within pistol shot, the sentinel then thinks it high time to alarm his fellows. This he does by a loud kind of snorting; upon which they all take the signal, and fly off with the speed of the wind; their faithful sentinel bringing up the rear. 6. But of all countries in the world, where the horse runs wild, Arabia produces the most beautiful breed, the most generous, swift, and persevering. They are found, though not in great numbers, in the deserts of that country; and the natives use every stratagem to take them. 7. The usual manner in which the Arabians try the swiftness of these animals is by hunting the ostrich. The horse is the only animal whose speed is comparable to that of this creature, which is found in the sandy plains, that abound in those countries. The instant the ostrich perceives itself aimed at, it makes to the mountains, while the horseman pursues with all the swiftness possible, and endeavours to cut off his retreat. The chase then continues along the plain, while the ostrich makes use of both legs and wings to assist its motion. 8. A horse of the first speed is able to outrun it so that the poor animal is then obliged to have recourse to art to elude the hunter by frequent turning. At length, finding all escape hopeless, it hides its head wherever it can, and tamely suffers itself to be taken. If the horse, in a trial of this kind, shows great speed and is not readily tired, his character is fixed, and he is held in high estimation. 9. The horses of the Arabians form the principal riches of many of their tribes, who use them both in the chase, and in their expeditions for plunder. They never carry heavy burdens, and are seldom employed on long journeys. They are so tractable and familiar, that they will run from the fields at the call of their masters. The Arab, his wife, and children, often lie in the same tent with the mare and foal; which, instead of injuring them, suffer the children to rest on their bodies and necks, and seem afraid even to move lest they should hurt them. 10. They never beat or correct their horses, but treat them with kindness, and even affection. The following anecdote of the compassion and attachment, shown by a poor Arabian to one of these animals, will be interesting to every reader.-The whole property of this Arab consisted of a very fine beautiful mare. This animal the French consul at Said offered to purchase, with an intention to send her to the king, Louis the Fourteenth. 11. The Arab, pressed by want, hesitated a long time, but at length consented, on condition of receiving a very considerable sum of money, which he named. The con sul wrote to France for permission to close the bargain; and having obtained it, sent the information to the Arab. The man, so poor as to possess only a few rags to cover his body, arrived with his magnificent courser. He dismounted, but appeared to be greatly agitated by contending emotions. 12. Looking first at the gold, and then at his mare, he heaved a deep sigh, and exclaimed ; "To whom is it I am going to surrender thee? To Europeans! who will tie thee close; who will beat thee; who will render thee miserable! Return with me, my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of my children!" As he pronounced the last words, he sprung upon her back; and, in a few moanents, was out of sight. SECTION IV. The Ouran-Outang. 1. THE ape called the Ouran-Outang, approaches in external appearance nearer to the human form, than any other brute; and from this circumstance, it has sometimes obtained the appellation of "Man of the woods." This animal is of different sizes, from three to seven feet. In general, its stature is less than that of a man; - but its strength and agility are much greater. 2. Travellers who have seen various kinds of these animals, in their native solitudes, give surprising relations of their force, their swiftness, their address, and their ferocity. They are found in many parts of Africa, in the EastIndies, in Madagascar, and Borneo. In the last of these places, the people of quality course them as we do the stag; and this sort of hunting is one of the favourite amusements of the king himself. 3. The skin of the Ouran-Outang is hairy, his eyes are sunk in his head, his countenance is stern, and all his lineaments though resembling those of a man, are harsh and blackened by the sun. He sleeps under trees, and builds a hut to protect himself against the sun and the rains. When the negroes have left a fire in the woods, he comes near and warms himself by the blaze. He has not, however, sense and skill sufficient to keep the flame alive by feeding it with fuel. 4. These animals often go together in companies; and if they happen to meet one of the human species, remote from succor, they seldom show him favor. Sometimes, however, they spare those who fall into their hands. negro boy was carried off by one of them, and lived with them upwards of a year. A 5. On his escape and return home, he described many of them as being larger than men; and he said that they never attempted to injure him. They frequently attack the elephant: they beat him with clubs, and oblige him to leave that part of the forest which they claim as their own. -When one of these animals die, the rest cover the body with leaves and branches. 6. The manners of the Ouran-Outang, when in confinement, are gentle, and for the most part, harmless, perfectly devoid of that disgusting ferocity so conspicuous in some of the larger baboons and monkeys. It is mild and docile, and may be taught to perform with dexterity a variety of entertaining actions. Vosmaer's account of one of these animals, which was brought into Holland in the year 1776, and lodged in the menagerie of the Prince of Orange, is so exceedingly curious, that we shall present the reader with an extract from it. 7. "This animal showed no symptoms of fierceness and malignity. It was fond of being in company and appeared to be very sensible of the kindness of those who had the care of it. Often when they retired, it would throw itself on the ground, as if in despair, uttering lamentable cries, and tearing in pieces the linen within its reach. Its keeper having been accustomed to sit near it on the ground, it frequently took the hay off its bed, and laid it by its side, and seemed by all its actions to invite him to be seated nearer. 8. "Its usual manner of walking was on all-fours, but it could also walk on its two hind feet only. It ate almost every thing that was given to it; but its chief food was bread, roots, and all sorts of fruit, especially strawberries. When presented with strawberries on a plate, it was extremely pleasant to see the animal take them up one by. one, with a fork, and put them into its mouth, holding at the same time the plate in the other hand. ner. 9. "Its common drink was water; but it also very willingly drank all sorts of wine particularly Malaga. After drinking, it wiped its lips; and after eating, if presented with a toothpick it would use it in a proper manOn shipboard it ran freely about the vessel, played with the sailors, and went like them, into the kitchen for its mess. At the approach of night, it lay down to sleep, and prepared its bed, by shaking well the hay on which it slept, and putting it in proper order. It would then carefully draw up the coverlet. This animal lived only seven months after it had been brought into Holland." 10. The Ouran-Outang, described by Buffon, exhibited a still greater degree of sagacity. It walked upon two legs, even when it carried burthens. Its air was melancholy, and its deportment grave. Unlike the baboon and the monkey, whose motions are violent and appetites capricious, whose fondness for mischief is remarkable, and whose obedience proceeds only from fear, this animal was slow in its motions, and a look was sufficient to keep it in awe. the 11. I have seen it, says Buffon, give its hand to show company to the door; I have seen it sit at table, unfold 1 its napkin, wipe its lips, make use of the spoon and the fork to carry victuals to its mouth: pour out its drink into a glass, and touch glasses when invited; take a cup and saucer, lay them on the table, put in sugar, pour out its tea, leave it to cool, and then drink it. All this it would do without any other instigation than the signs or commands of his master, and often of its own accord. It was gentle and inoffensive: it even approached strangers with respect; and came rather to receive caresses than to offer injuries. It was particularly fond of comfits, which every body was ready to give it; but as it had a defluction upon the breast, so much sugar contributed to increase the disorder, and to shorten its life. It continued at Paris but one summer and died in London.” 12. We are told by Pyrard, that the Ouran-Outang are found at Sierra Leone; where they are strong and well formed, and so industrious, that, when properly trained and fed, they work like servants; that, when ordered, they pound any substances in a nortar; and that they are frequently sent to fetch water, in small pitchers, from the rivers. After filling the pitchers; they carry them on their heads to the door of the dwelling! but if they are not soon taken off, the animals suffer them to fall to the ground. When they perceive the pitcher to be overturned and broken, they utter loud lamentations. 13. The form and organs of this animal bear so near a resemblance to those of men, that we are supprised to find them productive of so few advantages. The tongue, and all the organs of the voice, are similar, and yet the animal is dumb; the brain is formed in the same manner as that of man, and yet the creature wants reason: an evident proof, as Buffon finely observes, that no arrangement of matter will give mind; and that the body, how nicely soever formed, is formed to very limited ends, when there is not infused a soul to direct its operations. SECTION V. WHO is this beautiful virgin that approaches, clothed in a robe of light green? She has a garland of flowers on her head, and flowers spring up wherever she sets her foot. The snow which covered the fields, and the ice which was in the rivers, melt away when she breathes upon them,- |