256 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



that tallies with that of the Bedouins, who say that 

 there are five breeds among the " ussal khomsee'' 

 — literally horses of true family, i e., thorough- 

 breds ; and that they are descended from the five 

 sacred mares of Mahomet, named Rabdha, Noama, 

 Wajza, Sabha, and Heyma, giving names to the 

 following distinct breeds — the Taueyse, Manekye, 

 Keheyl, Saklawye, and Dujlfe. Nedjed signifies, 

 in Arabic, high or table-land, in contradistinction 

 to Telema, or the plains ; and horses of this caste 

 are considered the best blood of Arabia. In the 

 desert a pedigree is never given or asked for, every 

 Arab knowing the genealogy of another's mare, 

 without the aid of a stud-book ; but, for mercantile 

 purposes, and especially in the case of colts, a pro- 

 perly-attested pedigree is inclosed in a piece of 

 leather and fastened round the horse's neck. 



The Mussulman does everything in a difierent 

 way to a European. On entering the house, he 

 takes oif his shoes — we our hats ; he sliaves his 

 head — we our beards; he values a mare — we a 

 horse ; with him the produce takes rank from the 

 dam — with us the sire gives nobility. An Arab 



