IKTEODUCTION Xlll 



excel; for without wings thou wilt fly. Great persons will adorn 

 thy back, and by thy means wealth will be obtained.' Then the 

 hand of Fate affixed the seal of Good-Fortune, i.e., a white spot on 

 the horse's forehead." 



First Man to bestride a Horse — Solomon's Horses. — ''The 

 first man to bestride a horse was the Prophet Isma'il son of 

 Abraham (peace on both of them). God gave him permission to 

 summon the horses to him. He chose the best and most high- 

 spirited and tamed them. In King Solomon's time only one of 

 these horses remained, known by the title ZdcP-'r-Eakb or the 

 * Provision of the Travellers/ and from this one stallion are 

 descended all Arab horse-flesh.^ The Arabs in their conquests 

 introduced their horses elsewhere. All the horses of the world are 

 ofi'-shoots of the Arab breed ; they have changed their appearance 

 owing to change of climate, soil and food. Where the soil is rocky, 

 horses are bay ; where it is soft and light in colour, they are nuqra,!." " 



Marks o¥ Breeding in an Arab. — ''The signs of a well-bred 

 Arab horse are thin lips ; nostrils with fine edges ; nostrils wide 

 and open ; head long and lean ; skin soft ; the hair of the mane 

 and tail long; the chest broad; the joints clean and without flesh. 

 Further, according to the sayings of the ancients, a well-bred horse 

 is known by its manners rather than by its shape. A handsome 

 horse that is ill-mannered must be reckoned also ill-bred." 



Qualities op a well-bred Arab. — " For breeding purposes, the 

 Arabs take pains to select stallions and mares that are fast, 

 intelligent, affectionate, and of proved endurance. A well-bred 

 Arab will rarely allow itself to be ridden except by its owner. It 

 will restrain all its desires while its rider is on its back, refraining 

 even from staling. A well-bred horse will not eat the leavings of 

 another horse ; it will also evince great delight in pawing in clear 

 fresh water. Often, too, by the keenness of its powers of sight, 

 smell, and hearing, it preserves its owner from danger. It rejoices 

 when its master rejoices, and grieves when he grieves ; and it 

 fights with him against his enemy. A horse of pure breed can be 

 distinguished by these points." 



1 Zdd'"'-'r-Balib was given by Solomon to the well-known tribe Azd, 

 who bred from this stallion freely. 

 ^ Cream-coloured, Albino. 



