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| DONKEY AND BLOCK-WHEELED CART, CARRICKFERGUS.- The Irish jackass is an animal that has recently won favor in English eyes, even if the Irishman himself has not. John Bull needs the services of the Hibernian donkey in Afghanistan and Africa, whenever he has trouble with "the tribes." That pre-eminent judge of horseflesh, General Lord Roberts-"a boy from Waterford," by the way-thinks that the noble animal so prized by bold dragoons, is too delicate for the fierce climate and rough roads of India and Africa. On the latter continent, particularly, the horse has so generally succumbed to heat and fly torture that he is next to useless, particularly when called upon to do hard work. The Irish donkey in courageous, thick-hided and tractable. Observe the four-footed philosopher, consigned to the tender mercies of two Carrickfergus lads, depicted in the sketch. He seems to be dreaming of the stirring times in store for him at "the Cape," or in the dominions of "Oom Paul." The block-wheel cart which he draws is of very ancient pattern-about as primitive as those carts, with the octagonal wooden tires, used by the Red River half-breeds in Manitoba. The block-wheel, although awkward in appearance, is very strong and, in the moist Irish climate, will last for many years-it is, in fact, practiaclly indestructible. but it is gradually disappearing, and is now used by only the poorer classes of the people. |
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