In the extreme distance, at least ten miles away, lay the lake of Saighal, glittering 

 white in the sun; and the whole space between it and where we stood seemed oc- 

 cupied, while east and west there was at least an equal depth of camp. We have 

 estimated the whole number of tents at twenty thousand, and of camels at a hundred 

 and fifty thousand; and, at the sight, I felt an emotion of almost awe, as when one 

 first sees the sea. Nothing that we have seen hitherto in the way of multitude 

 approaches to this. The Sebaa, with their allies, may be as numerous, but they 

 have not a fourth part of the Roala camels, nor have we on any occasion seen them 

 all collected thus in one place. It gave us, too, an immense idea of the real size 

 of the tribe thus congregated, to find that, traveling at our usual pace, it was more 

 than two hours before we arrived at Sotamm's tent, which stood, they told us, in the 

 center of the camp, and that during all our route we were never a hundred yards 

 away from a tent. Sheep there were none, however, except high up on the slopes 

 of the surrounding hills, and we were struck by the comparatively small number of 

 the mares. Camels seemed everything, and of these herd after herd were passed 

 through, of a hundred, and five hundred, and a thousand strong. The tents them- 

 selves are smaller than those of the Sebaa, and only the Sheykh's is an imposing 

 one. 



"The pure bred Bedouin horse stands from fourteen to fifteen hands in height, 

 the difference depending mainly on the country in which he is bred, and the amount 

 of good food he is given as a colt. In shape he is like our English thoroughbred, 

 his bastard cousin, but with certain differences. The principal of these is, as might 

 be expected, in the head, for where there is a mixture of blood the head almost al- 

 ways follows the least beautiful type of the ancestors. Thus, every horse with a 

 cross of Spanish blood will retain the heavy head of that breed, although he have 

 but one-sixteenth part of it to fifteen of a better strain. The head of the Arabian 

 is larger in proportion than that of the English thoroughbred, the chief difference 

 lying in the depth of jowl. This is very marked, as is also the width between the 

 cheek bones, where the English horse is often defective to the cost of his windpipe. 

 The ears are fine and beautifully shaped, but not very small. The eye is large and 

 mild, the forehead prominent as in horses of the Touchstone blood with us, and 

 the muzzle fine, sometimes almost pinched. Compared with the Arabian, the 

 English thoroughbred is Roman nosed. The head, too, and this is perhaps the most 

 distinguishing feature, is set on at a different angle. When I returned to England 

 the thoroughbreds seemed to me to hold their heads as if tied in with a bearing rein, 

 and to have no throat whatever, the cause perhaps of that tendency to roaring so 

 common with them. 



"The neck of the Arabian horse is light, and I have never seen among them 

 anything approaching to the crest given by his pictures to the Godolphin Arabian. 

 The shoulder is good, as good as in our own horses, and the wither is often as high, 

 although from the greater height of the hind quarters this is not so apparent. The 

 forearm in the best specimens is of great strength, the muscle standing out with 

 extraordinary prominence. The back is shorter than it is in our thoroughbreds, 

 and the barrel rounder. The Arabian is well ribbed up. He stands higher at the 

 croup than at the wither. The tail is set on higher, but not, as I have heard some 

 people say, on a level with the croup. Indeed, the jumping bone, to use an Irish 

 phrase, is often very prominent. The tail is carried high, both walking and galloping; 

 and this point is much looked to as a sign of breeding. I have seen mares gallop 

 with their tails as straight as a colt's, and fit, as the Arabs say, to hang your cloak on. 



"The hind quarter in the Arabian is much narrower than in our horses, another 

 point of breeding which indicates speed rather than strength. The line of the 

 hind quarter is finer, the action freer, and the upper limb longer in proportion than 

 in the English race horse. The hocks are larger, better let down, and not so straight. 

 The cannon bone is shorter. The legs are strong, but with less bone in proportion 



