ENCOMIUMS ON THE ARAB TAKEN AT RANDOM 153 



their inquisitive attention and wonderful appearance 

 of intelligence. It has been stated that an Arab 

 would prefer his horse to be stolen rather than 

 injured in a long and heavy chase, and that he has 

 been known to rejoice, by reason of his pride in 

 her, when his favourite mare has carried the thief 

 safely away from his pursuit. If he is to be kicked, 

 he hopes that it will be by a horse of pure 

 breed ! 



Dr. Porter writes of the arrival of a stranger who 

 drew up after a very rapid pace, whose mare stood 

 patient and gentle without symptom of weariness or 

 quickness of breathing, but with expanded nostril 

 and proud eye. ' I could see,' said Dr. Porter, 'why 

 the Arab loves his horse.' 



Mr. Frederick Drew, in his book ' The Northern 

 Frontier of India,' says that Baltistan is one of 

 the homes of polo, which is so ancient a game that 

 it was played in Constantinople in the middle of 

 the twelfth century. ' The ponies of the Baltis,' he 

 says, ' may be taken fairly enough to embody the 

 experience of generations of players as to the right 

 kind of animal. They stand about 12.3 or 13 hands, 

 rather large-boned for their size, of compact make, 

 broad chest, deep shoulder, well-formed barrel, well- 

 ribbed-up, good hind-quarters, and a small, well- 

 shaped head. This well describes a small Arab ; 

 anyhow, the creature to which Mr. Drew refers is 

 an Eastern horse, and certainly more or less crossed 

 with the Arab. 



