A description of the nature of four-footed beasts with their figures en[graven in brass] / written in Latin by Dr. John Johnston ; translated into English by J.P.

CHAPTER III. Of the wilde Asse.

THe Greeks call him Onagros,* 1.1 as much as to say, the Asse of the field, or wilde Asse. Nicephorus Callistus, speaking of India,* 1.2 seemes to describe him, when he saith, this Region breeds wild Asses both very great, and of a skin of strange musuall co∣lours, black, and white being mixt with a great variety: And certain girdles, or rings reaching down from the top of the back-bone to the sides, and belly, and there parted, and by certain turnings entertwined, making an admirable folding, and variety. Oppianus ascribes a silver colour to him,* 1.3 which Gesner takes it for an ash-colour, and conceives that Eeroenta signi∣fies the same. But that he is not all white is clear by what Oppian adds about a black streak run∣ning along his back, fairly distinguisht here, and there by snow-white crownlets. Their skins Suidas calls Ozai.

They live in wildernesses, especially in rocky and craggy places, in Africk, Lycaonia, Narsin∣ga. Some deny that they passe in Lycia, that hill that severs Cappadocia from it. The Cap∣padocians hunt them most.* 1.4 In Psara, an isle of the Aegean sea, lives there a kind, that trans∣lates elsewhere dy. Some deny that there are any in Scythia. But Strabo sais that the inhabi∣tants about the marshes of Moeotis, appoint hunting matches of them.

As for their nature, and fashions; Isidore,* 1.5 and Bartholomew of England write, that they were about the first Equinoctial once every hour night and day; and thereby men know that the nights, and dayes are of a length: which rather agrees to the Cynocephalus, bo∣died like an Ape, and headed like a Dog; Sca∣liger saith, that if they have seen a man stand in the same steps, they presently fall a braying, holding their forefeet still, and flinging out

with their hindfeet. He will suffer the hunter to come so near him, that he can touch him with his hand, and then he betakes him to his heels.* 1.6 They are very jealous, and each go∣verns his females: They are fearfull of their rivals. Whence it is, that they watch their shee-asses, when great with fole; that, if they can, they may by biting geld the male-colts, which the dammes fearing, doe their best to hide them in corners, and love to foale by stealth. We gather out of H. Scriptures, that they are impatient of thirst. Some, to have a breed of Mules, choose wilde-asses tamed. This beast is easily tamed, and made so gentle, that he shall not seek to returne to his former lovely wildnesse.

Their flesh is bitter,* 1.7 saith Aelian: Galen saith, that that of the well conditioned, and young, comes near to Harts-flesh, and beef. Scaliger saith, that it is ranke, while warme; cold, it neither smels, nor tastes well. And Pliny writes, that Maecenas made feasts of Asses-colts,* 1.8 and that then they were far preferd afore the wilde Asses; but after his time, their taste was not regarded.

Physitians smear their galls on Ulcers with good successe; and mingle them in plaisters against S. Anthonies fire, if we beleeve Avicen. Their fat with oyle of Costus, is commended for the windinesse of the loins, and reins. The flesh of their back with oyles, help aking-joynts. Their pisse, saith Avicen, breaks the stone in the bladder. Their marrow cures the Gout, and takes away the pain, annointing the place. The dung mixt with the yolke of an egge, daubed on the forehead, stanches blood. The same with an Ox-gall, if you annoint the hair, makes it curl.

There are said to be two kindes of them.* 1.9 In the mountaine that parts the Narsingae their Kingdome from the Malabars, many savage Asses have their haunt. The same breeds wild Asses faced like a Horse, ash-coloured, so nimble of foot, that there is no taking of them. Those also of Africa are so swift, that they fall short of no wild beast, except that they call the Lant.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  H. Eccl. l. 9.
• * 1.3

  Cyn••g l. 3.
• * 1.4

  Lucian.
• * 1.5

  Their nature, and fashions.
• * 1.6

  Plin. H. N. l. 8. c. 44. & Soli••us.
• * 1.7

  Vse.
• * 1.8

  Exerc. Zob. 5. 4.
• * 1.9

  Kindes. Sc••liger.