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implicit credit is certainly often given to less credible reports. The 

 Arabians are, above all nations, attached to their Horses, and the most 

 scrui)uloiis, both with regard to their pedigrees, and their care and pre- 

 caution in breeding. The names, marks, colours, age and qualifica- 

 tions of all the superior stallions and mares, are generally known among 

 the breeders of that country, as among the breeders of Race-horses 

 in this; but they carry their scrupulosity and precaution far beyond us. 

 On the covering a marc, witnesses are called, who give a solemn cer- 

 tificate of the consummation, signed and sealed in the presence of the 

 emir, or of some magistrate. The names and pedigrees of the horse and 

 mare are set forth in this instrument. This ceremony is repeated when 

 the foal is dropped, and a fresh certificate is signed, in which the day 

 of birth is registered, and the foal particularly described. These vou- 

 chers like the title-deeds of an estate, pass with the Horse when sold, 

 and in them consists a material part of his value. The prejudices of 

 these people concurring with their leading interest, we need entertain 

 the less suspicion of their fidelity, which is farther confirmed by the 

 testimony of ages in their favour, by the apparent marks of purity 

 and integrity in their breed, and by the unrivalled excellence of those 

 animals in which they deal, and disperse over so many countries. 



The Kehidischi, or second class of Arabian Horses, may be compared 

 with the varieties of this country, which we call generally blood-horses, 

 meaning such as indeed shew blood, but the pedigrees of Avhich are not 

 perfect. Thus the Kehidischi are not thorough-bred, but although per- 

 haps, for the most part, the produce of stallions of the first class, yet 

 in their breed, there may have been many interventions of half-bred, 

 or common-bred mares. I have no doubt, from the various examina- 

 tions I have had the opportunity to make, that the far greater part of 

 the Arabian Horses brought over to this country, have been of this 

 second class. The Attichi, or third class, are the common run of the 

 Horses of the country, mixed perhaps with a thousand adventitious 

 crosses ; and about the breeding or pedigree of which, no extraordinary 

 care has been taken. It would be matter of curiosity, indeed, could 

 Ave ascertain why the Horses of this particular district should have 

 preserved that character of superiority, from the earliest ages. Was 



this 



