240 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



barrel, immense haunches, sloping shoulders, pecu- 

 liar to the Nedjed caste, long muscular arms, short 

 clean-made legs, showing the sinew like whip-cord, 

 springy pasterns, and round black hard hoofs, with 

 rather a hollow back, which, however, betokened 

 nothing of weakness ; he had a high quarter, with 

 a tail grandly carried, a fine silky mane and fore- 

 lock, small ears, a broad beautifully-shaped head, 

 well set on, wide nostrils, and eyes such as one 

 rarely sees save in the most beautiful women. 

 Although his back was short, he stood over a great 

 deal of ground, had a long stride, was very easy in 

 his paces, and, when at a gallop, lay very close to 

 the ground. Full of fire, courage, and endurance, 

 he was never restive, and his affectionate dispo- 

 sition and extraordinary sagacity had quite en- 

 deared him to me, so that when he was killed I 

 felt as if I had lost a well-loved friend. He was 

 given me by the celebrated Arab Chief Moussa 

 Pacha, one of the best and bravest of all the 

 Sultan's officers, who sealed his devotion with 

 his blood upon the ramparts of Silistria. 



Whilst campaigning I always turned in dressed. 



