THE DOMESTIC HORSE. 205 



have swam broad and rapid rivers to return to it. 

 The Arabs all insist upon the truth, that their horses 

 or mares, when sleeping abroad in the open desert, 

 will wake them on the approach of an enemy or of 

 a beast of prey : their gentleness may be witnessed 

 in the Bedoueen tent, where mare, foal, and children 

 all sleep and play together, without the least fear of 

 accident. The mutual attachment known to subsist 

 between the Northern Germans and their horses, 

 may be ascribed in a great measure to the structure 

 of the farm-houses, where the heads of cattle and 

 horses are turned towards the threshing-floor, at the 

 top of which the family usually resides, and has the 

 kitchen hearth; the animals being able to see all 

 that passes, are more familiarized, and comprehend 

 the doings of human beings better ; and these, by 

 being constantly in the presence of the domestic 

 animals, have their eyes upon them, and learn to 

 treat them more with a feeling of companions, than 

 that of brutes, fit only to cudgel and to command 

 with curses. 



In submission to a master, the horse is affected 

 by kind treatment almost as much as the dog and 

 f lephant ; for although habitually his actions show 

 timidity, they are more an effect of good temper 

 than fear, for where severity is unreasonably exer- 

 cised, obedience readily granted to kind treatment 

 becomes doubtful, and sooner or later breaks out 

 in vicious resentment and opposition : a horse knows 

 his own strength, and Oppression has its limits. In 

 emulation to surpass a rival, no more convincing 



