Donkeys, Mules, and Hinnies* of Hyboria
Jul 11, 2022 17:25:18 GMT -5
Post by mingerganthecat on Jul 11, 2022 17:25:18 GMT -5
I can't think of a single occasion where asses of any kind appeared in the REH Conan stories. Horses, of course, are the most common riding animals and are occasionally seen pulling chariots. Camels find most of their work in cargo trains, though they do appear from time to time as saddle mounts, with Conan himself riding one at least once. Oxen seem to be the primary draft animals, in fact I likewise can't remember any mention of any horse-drawn vehicles apart from the aforementioned chariots.
I don't think this is an oversight on Howard's part. He would have known that mules and donkeys were very important to pre-industrial societies, and still fairly important even his own era. US Army used pack mules in both World Wars and in Korea, and the Colorado coal mines didn't retire the last of their cart mules until the 1960's.
Is it possible that the collared harness hasn't been invented yet in Conan's world? That might explain the lack of variety in draft animals. As for pack animals, it's entirely possible that Conan just doesn't spend a lot of time around the baggage train of his armies.
*a hinny, for those not in the know, is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey. As opposed to a true mule, which is the offspring of a male donkey and female horse. You don't see them very often in any era, for a number of complicated reasons.
I don't think this is an oversight on Howard's part. He would have known that mules and donkeys were very important to pre-industrial societies, and still fairly important even his own era. US Army used pack mules in both World Wars and in Korea, and the Colorado coal mines didn't retire the last of their cart mules until the 1960's.
Is it possible that the collared harness hasn't been invented yet in Conan's world? That might explain the lack of variety in draft animals. As for pack animals, it's entirely possible that Conan just doesn't spend a lot of time around the baggage train of his armies.
*a hinny, for those not in the know, is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey. As opposed to a true mule, which is the offspring of a male donkey and female horse. You don't see them very often in any era, for a number of complicated reasons.
