52 PURCHASING FROM THE STABLES. 



lessly formed, and fresh Arab of this age, is as 

 difficult to find as a large diamond. 



Two horses, very nearly resembling each other, 

 may be very differently priced : take for instance, 

 two of valuable caste and build, one having rather 

 a straight shoulder, the other an oblique one ; 

 or one rather a thick neck, the other a light one ; 

 the latter, all other points equal, would for the 

 saddle be worth fully double the former. So 

 also a blemish, though not detracting from the 

 actual utility, will often reduce a handsome horse 

 from fifteen hundred rupees down to one thou- 

 sand rupees ; in the same manner as a dab of 

 grease or paint will ruin the value of a dress- 

 coat : the coat may be still as useful, but not for 

 appearance. 



Recollect, a horse's price is not according to 

 the vulgar error, " what he '11 fetch," for many 

 a ruined horse, with a good name, often fetches 

 more than his original worth, when fresh; and 

 vice versa ; but the real intrinsic value of a horse 

 consists in what you would, have on a fair average 

 to pay for such another, as good and unblemished 

 in every respect, in the country in which you 

 may be. 



