EGYPTIAN AND ARABIAN HORSES. 



465 



(iijx'rcd ;in(l l):uv, wi(U'-()[)('ii nostrils. :i lonij;, arcluMl ncclc, stroiijjj 

 i-licsl, hind quartors high and rounded, belly inconsjjiciious, tail 

 ^liort and fine, nervous le<i:s with short, tlexihle jjasterns, and hard 

 and ample hoofs. AVhen the tlii-ee pi'incipal (|ualities, that of head, 

 hind (piarters. and of le<is, are found toijether the horse is considered 

 perfect. Rut, on the other hand, when :i horse shows any unlucky 

 siyn they will ha\'e him neither for mount nor for stallion. For 

 there are several natural si_i>;ns which the Aral)s regard as si<inificant, 

 some as sinister for the owner or rider, others as favorable and luciv 

 bringing. Whatever superstitions they may sliow in similar matters 

 it is certain that these ideas have had root in long-extended observa- 

 tions, and that superstitious as they are they Avould never consent to 

 reduce by two-thirds the price of their horses bearing unlucky signs 

 if there were not some mysterious foundation of truth in these beliefs. 



The greater jiarts of these signs are small feathei's, or epis, situated 

 on different parts of the body. An '' epi " is a little mesh or tuft of 

 hair which makes a slight projection on a horse's hide. Each one of 

 these has to the Arab a significance according to the place where it 

 occur:*! and the length and fineness of the hair. 



Here is a list of the most characteristic epis familiar in Mesopo- 

 tamia. Syria, Nedjed, Avhich is to say in the countries where the most 

 beautiful horses of the Orient are found. The numbers refer to the 

 fiffure — 



Sketch of an Arabian horse showing the situation of principal epis. 



1. Kanadil: Two epis situated in the forelock near the temples; 

 they are considered among the favorable signs, 

 SM I90i 30 



