THE ARABIAN. 63 



animal to save its master proved fatal. * When I was at Je- 

 rusalem, the feats of one of these steeds made a great noise. 

 The Bedouin to whom the animal, a mare, belonged, being 

 pursued by the Governor's guards, she rushed with him from 

 the top of the hills which overlook Jericho. The mare 

 scoured at full gallop down an almost perpendicular decli- 

 vity, without stumbling, and left the soldiers lost in admira- 

 tion and astonishment. The poor creature dropped down 

 dead on entering Jericho, and the Bedouin, who would not 

 quit her, was taken, w r eeping over the body of his faithful 

 companion. This mare has a brother in the desert, who is 

 so famous, that the Arabs always know where he has been, 

 where he is, what he is doing, and how he does. Ali Aga 

 religiously showed me, in the mountains near Jericho, the 

 footsteps of the mare which died in the attempt to save 

 her master. A Macedonian could not have beheld those 

 of Bucephalus with greater respect.' 



" The only possession of a poor Arab of the desert was 

 a mare, which, after much hesitation, and pressed by pov- 

 erty, he consented to sell to the French Consul at Said. 

 At length, with only a rag to cover his body he arrived at 

 the Consul's residence. Having dismounted and the purse 

 being presented to him ; he looked at the gold, then gazed 

 steadfastly at his mare, and heaving a deep sigh, while the 

 tears trickled down his cheeks, he exclaimed : * To whom 

 is it, I am going to yield thee up ? To Europeans, who will 

 tie tliee close, who will beat thee, who will RENDER THEE 

 MISERABLE ! Return with me, my BEAUTY ! my JEWEL ! and 

 rejoice the hearts of my CHILDREN !' As he pronounced 

 the last words, he sprung upon her back, and was soon out 

 of sight." 



