ridge a short thick mane, which extends along the back, nearly to the tail. The shoulders are very deep, which has given rise to an idea that the fore-legs are longer than the hind ones. This extremely singular and noble creature is found only in the interior recesses of Africa, whence it is never taken alive, except when young, and where it is seldom even seen by European travellers. When they stand with their head and neck perfectly erect, many of these animals measure sixteen or eighteen feet in height. In their native wilds their singular form gives them, at a distance, the appearance of decayed trees; and the deception is not a little aided by their colour, reddish white, marked with numerous large rusty spots. They are of a mild and timid disposition. When pursued, they trot so fast that even a good horse is scarcely able to keep pace with them, and they continue their course for a long time without requiring rest. When they leap, they lift first their fore-legs, and then the hinder ones, in the manner of a horse whose forelegs are tied together. Their general position, except when grazing, is with the head and neck erect. They feed principally on the leaves of trees, and particularly on those of a peculiar species of mimosa, that is common in the country where they are found, and to which the extreme length of their legs and neck admirably adapts them. When they feed from the ground, they are under the necessity of dividing their legs to a con siderable distance. In preparing to lie down, they kneel like the camel. It has generally been supposed that the Giraffe possessed neither the power nor the strength to defend itself against the attacks of other animals; this, however, seems to be unfounded; for M. le Vaillant has asserted, that by its kicks it frequently resists the lion. The utility of the horns of the Giraffe appears to be unknown; this writer says, that they are used as weapons of defence. The flesh of the young Giraffe is said to be good eating. The Hottentots hunt the animal principally on account of its marrow, which, as a delicacy, they set a high value upon. From divers accounts that have been left to us, this animal seems to have been known to the ancients. Heliodorous, the Greek bishop of Sicca, mentions it particularly in his time, and his description seems more original and authentic than that of most of the old writers. "The ambassadors from the Axiomita (he says) brought presents to Hydaspes, and, among other things, there was an animal of a strange and wonderful species, about the size of a camel, which had its skin marked with florid spots. The hinder parts, from the loins, were low, like those of a lion; but the shoulders, forefeet, and breast, were elevated above proportion to the other parts. The neck was small, and lengthened out from its large body like that of a swan. form, resembles a camel, but was, in size, The head, in about twice that of the Libyan ostrich, and it rolled its eyes, which had a film over them, very frightfully. It differed in its gait from that of every other land or water animal, and waddled in a remarkable manner. Each leg did not move alternately; but those on the right side moved together, independently of the other, and those on the left in the same manner, so that each side was alternately elevated. This animal was so tractable as to be led by a small string fastened to its head, and the keeper could conduct it wherever he pleased, as if with the strongest chain! When the animal appeared, it struck the whole multitude with terror; and it took its name from the principal parts of its body, being called by the multitude camelopardalis." QUASHIE AND HIS MULE. THE negro boys are the most cunning urchins I ever had to do with. While my vessel was lying at St. Anne's Bay, Jamaica, I had to go to Port Maria to look for some cargo; and on my way thither, near Oracabessa, I came to one of the numerous small rivers that empty themselves into the little bays along the coast. When at some distance, I observed a negro boy flogging his mule most severely, but before I got up, he had dismounted and appeared in earnest talk with his beast, which, with fore-legs stretched out firm, and ears laid down, seemed proof against all arguments to induce him to enter the water. Quashie was all animation, and his eyes flashed like fire-flies. "Who-o! you no go ober; Berry wellme bet you fippenny me make you go. No? Why for you no bet? Why for you no go ober?" Here the mule shook his ears to drive away the flies, which almost devour the poor animals in that climate. "Oh! you do bet-berry well; den me try.' The young rogue (he was not more than ten years old) disappeared in the bush, and returned in a few minutes with some strips of fanweed, a few small pebbles, and a branch of the cactus plant. To put three or four pebbles in each of the mule's ears, and tie them up with the fanweed, was but the work of a minute. He then jumped on the animal's back, turned round, put the plant to the animal's tail, and off they went, as a negro himself would say "Like mad, Massa!" Into the water they plunged the little fellow grinning and shewing his teeth in perfect extacy. Out they got on the other side; head and ears down-tail and heels up-and the boy's arms moving about as if he was flying; and I lost sight of him as he went over a rocky steep at full gallop, where one false step would have precipitated them into the sea beneath, from whence there would have been but small chance of escape. A butcher's boy is nothing to a negro boy in these exploits. About two hours afterwards I reached Port Maria. There I saw, in an open space near one of the stores, standing, or rather leaning against the wall, Quashie, eating cakes; and there also stood the mule, eating Guinea grass, and looking much more cheerful than when I first saw him at the river side. "Well Quashie," won ?" 66 I said, "you have got here, I see; but which of you Quashie win, Massa-Quashie never lose." "But will he pay ?" I enquired. "Quashie pay himself, Massa. You see, Massa Buccra, massa gib Quashie tenpenny bit for grass for mule: Quashie bet fippenny him make him go ober de river. Quashie win. Quashie heb fippenny for cake-mule heb fippenny for grass." The above amusing anecdote we have taken from a most interesting volume on Jamaica, written by Mr. Phillippo, who for many years laboured there as a Missionary. Those who made slaves of the negro race were wont to say that the poor blacks were only animals, something of the monkey race, but this tale of the little negro boy, shows that he was a sharp little fellow, a little roguish certainly, but quite as witty and as clever as many a lad with a white skin! AN ANAGRAM. IF you transpose what ladies wear, Veil. You'll see an ancient Hebrew name; } Levi. Change it again, and it will shew What all on earth desire to do. Transpose the letters yet once more, What bad men do you'll then explore. Mountsorrel. ...... Live. } Evil. W. T. |