A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s3.2

v2.c79.s3.2

Narrating the good qualities of mules and their breeding, Abu-l-Fazl states, ‘The mule possesses the strength of a horse and the patience of an ass, and though it has not the intelligence of the former it has not the stupidity of the latter. It never forgets the road which it has once travelled. Hence it is liked by His Majesty, and its breeding is encouraged. It is the best animal for carrying burdens and travelling over uneven ground, and it has a very soft step. People generally believe that the male ass couples with a mare, but the opposite connexion also is known to take place. The mule resembles its dam. His Majesty had a young ass coupled with a mare, and they produced a very fine mule.’