THE ASS. 108

by the way,” has been rather a puzzling one to commen-
tators, some supposing that the whiteness referred to the
animals, others to the trappings with which they were deco-
rated. But in reality there is little or no difficulty, for per-
fectly white asses are not uncommon in western Asia, and
as they are generally the finest specimens of their kind, and
very handsome, they are held in great esteem, and sell at
a high price. When let out on hire, too, they are always
more ornamented, their trappings are of gayer colours, the
beads and shells more abundant, and the metal ornaments
more bright ; they are also frequently painted, in spots and
streaks, with the red stains of the henna-plant. If the
Hebrews had the same preference for these white asses as
the modern Asiatics, it may be readily understood that a
kind of distinction was conferred on their riders where
horses were not employed.

The number of asses and other animals’ mentioned as
belonging to different patriarchs, astonish the reader, but
the property in cattle possessed by Arabian Emirs of the
present day, bear no undue proportion to patriarchal wealth.
Ezra mentions two hundred and forty-five mules*, and six

* Mules were much used for riding by kings and persons of distinction
at various periods of Jewish history. The first positive mention of these