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xxxii. 15); Job possessed "five hundred she-asses (Job i. 3); and in David's establishment there was a superintendent of the she-asses (1 Chron. xxvii. 30).

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Previously to the time of Solomon, the ass was the animal which the Jews ordinarily rode, and it was equally valuable for carrying or drawing. So far from being looked on as an expression of reproach, the name of the ass was rather honourable, so that one of the tribes, Issachar, is compared to "a strong ass crouching down between two burdens" (Gen. xlix. 14). Numerous instances might be quoted of the ass being ridden by wealthy persons of both sexes: the wayward prophet Balaam " was riding upon his ass " when the angel met him (Numb. xxii. 22): the wealthy Shunammite woman "saddled an ass when she prepared for her journey to meet Elisha (2 Kings iv. 24): Achsah "lighted from off her ass "when she preferred her request for a field (Judg. i. 14): the judges generally rode upon asses, and it is recorded of Jair that "he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass-colts," a circumstance noticed as a proof of his wealth and dignity (Judg. x. 4); so again of Abdon (Judg. xii. 14): and in Deborah's song the judges are addressed as "ye that ride on white asses (Judg. v. 10). These particulars serve to illustrate that passage of our Lord's life, when He made His entry into Jerusalem riding on an ass: It had been predicted by Zechariah :-"Behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass" (Zech. ix. 9). We should remember that when these words were uttered, the Israelites had become familiar with the horse, as the animal on which warriors and conquering heroes rode. In contrast to these, the Saviour is predicted as coming on the animal which was associated with the friendly office of judge and deliverer, and which at the same time, in comparison with the horse, was the token of humility. To make the resemblance yet closer, the prophet specifies the kind of ass on which

He rode "even (not "and' as in our version) a colt, the foal of an ass"-the very expression used in reference to Jair and Abdon. This prophecy was fulfilled when, in obedience to the commands of Jesus, the disciples "brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way," and thus, amidst the plaudits of the multitude, Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. xxi. 7—11).

The ass was further used for agricultural purposes, as for ploughing:-"The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender :" "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass" (Is. xxx. 24, xxxii. 20). It was forbidden, however, by the Mosaic law to put under the same yoke the two animals noticed in the last quotation :-"Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together" (Deut. xxii. 10).

Only one instance is recorded of the ass being used for food, and that under the pressure of severe famine at the siege of Samaria :- "An ass's head was sold for thirty pieces of silver" (2 Kings vi. 25). We must remember that the ass would be ranked among the unclean animals, and that such food was on that account more than usually repugnant to the Jews.

The value and utility of the ass are well described by Russell, in his Natural History of Aleppo, ii. 172— 174:

"After the camel, the ass may be reckoned next in importance among the Syrian beasts of burden. Large caravans of them are daily employed in bringing provisions from the villages; they serve also for the plough; and within the city, as they assist in various kinds of labour, they are seen in every street. The common breed is larger than that usually seen in Britain, and another still larger is preserved for the saddle for the ordinary people, and many of the

middle class, commonly ride asses. The Osmanli, indeed, are seldom seen but upon horses; but asses are often preferred by the Sheiks, or religious men ; and though most of the opulent merchants keep horses, they are not ashamed, especially when old, to appear mounted on asses. Those intended for the saddle, of the best sort, bear a high price; they are tall, delicately limbed, go swiftly at an easy pace, or gallop, and are very sure-footed. They are fed and dressed with the same care as horses. Their bridle is ornamented with fringe and cowries, and the saddle, which is broad and easy, is covered with a fine carpet. The stirrups are made in the European manner, not broad after the Turkish fashion. There is a third variety of this animal known by the name of the Damascus ass; being more common in that city than at Aleppo. It has an enormous long body, and ears of a remarkable length; it is taller than the common sort, its skin smoother, and of a much darker colour."

The predilection for white asses is still preserved in certain parts of the East: Mr. Morier says, that at Ispahan in Persia, "The Mollahs, or men of the law, are generally to be seen riding about on mules; and they also account it a dignity, and suited to their character, to ride on white asses, which is a striking illustration of what we read in Judges v. 10."-Second Journey through Persia, p. 136.

The appearance of the ass, when duly prepared for its rider, is somewhat imposing :

"I never saw anything so richly caparisoned as the donkeys in Egypt: they look very far from the despised animals they are in Europe. There was one standing in the square opposite our windows this morning, that had a saddle and saddle-cloth of crimson velvet, ornamented with gold or yellow lace, embroidery, and tassels, and its other trappings were of corresponding richness."-Journey across the Desert.

"The Cairo donkey deserves a place in zoology to

itself, for it is different from any other of its species. It is distinguished less for its size than for its docility and strength. The weight they will carry, and the pace they go, are extraordinary; they walk, trot, and canter, as regularly as a horse. The saddles they carry are very large, and stuffed quite soft, the pommel rising high in front. They are generally of a very gay colour, and furnished with bridles covered with red carpet, and a pair of fantastic iron stirrups. There is always a donkey-boy for each, who drives his customers forward like a bale of goods."-MRS. GRIFFITH.

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CAMEL. The camel holds decidedly the first place in point of utility among the domesticated animals of the East, at all events in those parts of the east where sandy wastes occur. Its chief value is as a beast of burden in the figurative language of the Arabians, it

is the "ship of the desert." Its physical structure adapts it remarkably to this purpose: its broad, tough foot treads firmly on the hot, shifting sand; its capacity for carrying water enables it to travel great distances without suffering from thirst; it feeds on the dry and scanty herbage which grows about its path; and, even when this resource fails, it derives nutriment for a considerable time from its hump; lastly, its strength and endurance on the march are surprising. Besides this, the camel supplies, as we shall hereafter see, both food and clothing to the wandering Bedouins.

With so many valuable properties we can well understand that camels are regarded as an important item in the live-stock of an Eastern chief.

Job pos

sessed as many as three thousand (Job i. 3). Camels formed part of the presents made by Pharaoh to Abraham (Gen. xii. 16), and by Jacob to Esau (Gen. xxxii. 15). But they were more valuable to the traders of the surrounding countries than to the agricultural Jews :"The Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh" (Gen. xxxvii. 25): "Their camels" (i.e., of the Midianites and Amalekites) "were without number, as the sand by the sea-side for multitude" (Judges vii. 12); we also hear of their being possessed by the Ethiopians (2 Chron. xiv. 15), the Syrians (2 Kings viii. 9), and more especially the Arabs, whose conversion to the church of God is predicted in the following terms:-"The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah" (Isa. lx. 6).

The general appearance of the camel is familiar to most persons. Its size gives point to the proverbial sayings used by our Lord:-"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matt. xix. 24): “Ye blind guides which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel" (Matt. xxiii. 24). The most distinguishing feature, however, in its appearance is its hump, to

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