462 EGYPTIAN AND ARABIAN HOUSES. 



tions that have to struggle against the ignorance, prejudices, and 

 laziness of the Turks or native Egyptians. The stud of Ihrahini 

 Pasha contained nearly 400 Nedjdian and Aneza horses; those of the 

 Pashas Abbas and Kourchid were equally well filled Avith stallions 

 and mares from Arabia and Ilaurjin. Such a provision should cer- 

 tainly have assured Egypt a remarkal)le race; but so little Avas the 

 method and care displayed in their administration and so great is the 

 Ignorance of the Egy])tians and Turks of everything which pertains 

 to the breeding and raising of horses that these establishments failed 

 utterl}^ to accomplish anything worthy of note. 



As a result the breed of Egyptian horses, which in the ]:>ast was 

 famed for its virtues, is to-day nothing more than a mixture of all the 

 races l^rought into that country since the Arabian conquest. These 

 foreign elements have modified the shape and size of the Egyptian 

 type to such an extent that the horse as we find him in no Avise resem- 

 bles his ancestors depicted t>n the l)as-reliefs of ancient Egypt, How- 

 aver, it is a perfectly safe conclusion that none can compare Avith the 

 thoroughbred Arabian — the only direct descendant of the pure- 

 blooded horse. 



II. — The xIrabian Horse and His Principal Marks.« 



The scarcity of the purc-lilooded Arabian horse in our studs is a 

 fact to be deplored, especially as this race must ahvays be depended 

 upon to ameliorate the breed of our horses. But their scarcity, as 

 Avell as their value, Avill lend additional interest to a few details con- 

 cerning the origin and the introduction into France of this valuable 

 " regenerator." 



The Arabian horse is par excellence the king of horses.^ In every 

 case Avliere the blood is pure it presents the most perfect type, and in 

 every case of mixture its offspring show some remarkable qualities. 

 Almost alone it seems to have the faculty of improving the various 

 breeds Avith Avhich it is crossed and of perpetuating through succes- 

 sive generations its characteristic traits. As everyone knoAvs, Ara- 

 bian horses are Avonderfully intelligent. Story after story is told 

 of their extraordinary affection and sagacity. Moreover, they pos- 

 sess other admirable (|ualities. More than any other horse an Arabian 

 can stand hunger, thirst, extreme fatigue, and bad Aveather. Conse- 

 quently he makes an ideal Avar horse. 



The Arabian horse was acclimated in France about the time of the 

 first Crusades and is the foundation of our beautiful and poAverful 



a Conininniciited by E. Trisse iVAvennos. 1005. Based upon an artiolo origi- 

 nally i)ul)lisluMl in " Scionco Fran(:ais('." 



«>Only the Persian liorso can compare in licauty and mettle with the Arabian 

 horse, for the Persians are as vigilant in j,niardiny the purity of their breed as 

 the Arabians. 



