178 STORIES ABOUT HORSES.

account of an Egyptian ass, which seems to
have done wonders in this way. The author
says, ‘ When the Mahometan worship is over,
the common people of Cairo resort to the part
of the suburbs called Bed-Elloch, to see the
exhibition of stage-plavers and mountebanks,
who teach camels, asses, and dogs to dance.
The dancing of the ass is diverting enough;
for, after he has frisked and capered about, his
master tells him, that the Soldan, meaning to
build a great palace, intends to employ all the
asses In carrying mortar, stones, and other
materials; upon which the ass falls down with
his heels upwards, closing his eyes, and extend-
ing his chest, as if he were dead. ‘This done,
the master begs some assistance of the company,
to make up the loss of the dead ass; and having
got all he can, he gives them to know that truly
his ass is not dead, but only being sensible of
his master’s necessity, played that trick to
procure some provender. He then commands
the ass to rise, who still lies in the same