Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/35

 ASSAB ASSAM 23 dicates his family connection with the untama- ble members of his race, the zebra and qiiagga, who are yet more conspicuously striped, and of whose character and disposition the ass pos- sesses many points. The usual color of the ass is gray, mouse-colored, or black; and as be tends to bay, dun, or chestnut, the horse colors, the quality deteriorates. The dental system of the ass assimilates that of the horse, and in like manner indicates the age of the animal by the changes and murks of the teeth. The inalj ass is capable of propagation at two ^ears, the female somewhat earlier ; the latter carries her foal 11 months, producing it in the beginning of the 12th. The sexual vigor in both sexes is excessive, which may explain the fact that in the hybrids of the ass and horse the offspring are much nearer, as well in organ- ization as in temper and appearance, to the former than to the latter progenitor. In all cases the mule is an ass modified by a strain of the horse ; not a horse modified by a cross with the ass. The hybrid foal of the male ass and the mare is the true mule ; that of the stal- lion and the she ass, tlie hinny the latter be- ing less strongly tinctured with the blood and having less of the form of the ass, owing to the superior influence of the male in the physical form and external organization of the progeny. The mule, like the ass, brays, owing to a pe- culiar construction of the larynx; while the hinny neighs, like its sire. There is no doubt but that with careful^breeding, grooming, sta- bling, and nutritious feeding, the ass might be improved at least as much as any other domes- tic animal. As it is, he is admirably adapted for a beast of burden in cold, mountainous countries, in which, on a quarter of the food required by a horse, he will safely carry bur- dens under which the more generous animal would break down, over places in which the other could not keep its footing. Under kind treatment, he is hardly inferior in docility to the horse or the dog. The female is exces- sively fond of her young, and both sexes are susceptible of strong attachment to their owner. In elevated countries, where the soil is light, asses are serviceable in an agricultural point of view ; although in the United States, to which they were first introduced by Gen. Washing- ton, they are little used except for the propa- gation of mules. The best asses are obtained either from Smyrna, the island of Cyprus, or from Spain, where the race has been particular- ly cultivated, as it has also in Peru, with a view to the business of mule-raising, which in both these countries is important. ASSAB, or Saha, a bay in the Red sea, on the coast of Africa, 40 m. N. W. of the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, in lat. 12 55' N., Ion. 42 45' E., 16 m. long and 5 m. wide. It is bor- dered on the W. by high table land, and in its front are the coral islands of Darmabah and Darmahie, the last forming near Cape Lu- ma a safe harbor for small craft. The neigh- boring inhabitants are the Danakil, who are virtually governed by their own sultan, though the khedive of Egypt claims to be their legiti- mate ruler. The bay of Assab was purchased in 1869 by an Italian steamboat company as a coaling station on the voyage from Italy to Egypt through the Suez canal to India. ASSAM, a province at the N. E. extremity of British India, presidency of Bengal, between lat. 25 50' and 28 20' N., Ion. 90 40' and 97 30' E., bounded N. by Bhotan and Thi- bet, N. E. by Thibet, E. and S. by Burrnah, and S. W. by Bengal; area, 21,800 sq. m.; pop. variously estimated at from 200,000 to 700,000, the smaller number being probably more nearly correct. The country lies between two mountain ranges, branches of the Hima- laya, which are joined at its eastern end, and rise both on its northern and southern side to the height of nearly 20,000 feet. These send out offshoots along the sides of the valley which forms the province, and which consists of a long and level plain, studded here and there with groups of hills. The number of considerable streams exceeds 60, so that Assam is supposed to contain more rivers than any other equal extent of territory in the world. The Brahmapootra is the chief of these, flow- ing through the centre of the country from E. to W. The 1 soil is fertile, and the climate temperate and agreeable. A regular rainy season, like that of the tropics, lasts from March till October, swelling the rivers and flooding great districts of the plain, obliging the inhabi- tants to construct high causeways between the towns and villages. Earthquakes are frequent, but seldom severe. The country is rich hi minerals, containing coal and petroleum, iron, and gold dust in some of the river sands. Tea, silk, sugar, tobacco, and ivory form leading ar- ticles of trade. The tea plant is indigenous here, and is largely cultivated under the aus- pices of the English "Assam Tea Company," more than 17,000 acres of tea plantations hav- ing been under cultivation within the last few years. Tigers, leopards, bears, deer, and other wild animals abound, and elephants are very numerous. The Assamese are akin to the Hin- doo races. They are lithe and active, though generally slight in frame; they are almost beardless, and have unusually smooth skin. They live in huts of bamboo and mats, and lead rather indolent lives, carrying on few and unimportant industries. The most widespread religion is Brahminism, but there are also many Mohammedans. Assam was governed by a se- ries of kings, concerning whose origin and reigns little is known, until the 17th century, when a formidable attempt was made by the Mogul emperors to attach it to their dominions. This was defeated ; but from that time the country became the prey of revolutions, and gradually declined in power till 1770, when the British troops interfered hi a revolution against the rajah, and occupied a portion of the territory. In 1826, in the war with Burmah, the British finally took possession of the country.