STUD BOOK. 35 



the most part, deficient in height, and very light in the body. 

 Their powers of endurance are, however, great. We once 

 experienced great pain in sitting behind four of them across 

 the Egyptian desert, over which they took us in about fifteen 

 hours, including of course long stoppages, as were requisite. 

 We remonstrated with the driver that the horses were not 

 changed, and the reply was, that there were none to change. 

 He, however, asserted that they would be none the worse for 

 it, and to judge by the appearance of the am' mala on reach- 

 ing Cairo, we were of the same opinion. 



By far the most beautiful variety of the Arab horse is 

 the Barb, as he is called from his having been brought 

 from Barbary. The Barb is, however, small, rarely ex- 

 ceeding fourteen hands, and is thus considerably less than 

 the Bedouin horse of North and East Arabia. This breed of 

 horses was introduced long ago into England ; the celebrated 

 Godolphin Arabian, so called, was supposed to be a Barb. 

 It is to this breed that Spanish horses owe their fire and 

 beauty, and most of the best English race-horses have the 

 blood of the Barb in their veins. It is, however, remarkable 

 that, considering the lavish expenditure on improving the 

 breed of English horses, no attempts have been made to pro- 

 cure any of the mares of the highest Arabian stock. We ap- 

 pear to have placed the chief dependence on the Arab stal- 

 lion, though it is well-known to Oriental breeders that the 

 mare is of by far the greater importance. Some authors say 

 that the Arabs will not part with any of their finest mares. 

 This is, however, an error ; there is little that an Arab will 

 not part with for money. 



The Arab horse bears a high character for his docility 

 and sagacity, and it would be strange if he did not possess 

 both qualities. He is brought up in his owner's tent, and 

 literally with his family. In the absence of any other amuse- 

 ment, the education of the foal is a primary object He is 

 invariably kindly treated, and soon acquires a desire to please 

 his biped companions, and to take a pride in executing all 

 they require of him. The constant companion of man, he 

 soon learns to imitate man in every particular of which he is 

 capable. Any horse placed in the same position would ac- 

 quire the same qualities. It is said of the Arab horse that if 

 its rider fall, and be too much injured to rise, the steed will 

 stand still, and neigh till assistance arrives. If he lie down 

 to sleep, his horse will watch over him, and rouse him at 

 the approach of man or beast. 



The dry air and sands of Arabia are well adapted to pro- 



