48 HISTORY OF THE 



prophet, wishing to set aside from his stud the 

 best mares, in order to form a distinct and per- 

 fect breed, had them all kept for two entire days 

 and nights without water. On a sudden, when 

 almost mad with thirst, the mares are released, 

 and gallop with the swiftness of the wind to the 

 well-known spring. When in view of the re- 

 freshing waters, by a preconcerted signal, the 

 trumpets sound a war charge. At this well- 

 known sound five of the mares, forgetting in a 

 moment the agonies of their thirst, leave un- 

 tasted the waters of the spring, and gallop to 

 the imagined war ; and from these five mares 

 the author imagines the noblest breed to have 

 descended. 



The dry air and soil of Arabia seem pecu- 

 liarly adapted to produce hard muscular fibre ; 

 accordingly we find the Arabian horse in the 

 highest, and other Eastern breeds in an inferior, 

 degree, possess a firmness of anatomical organi- 

 zation unequalled except by the English thorough 

 bred horse. The nature and character of the 

 horse of the desert particularly adapted him to 

 produce an animal which, as in the case of the 

 race horse, is called upon to put its physical 

 powers to the severest trial to which nature, 

 aided by art, can submit. These advantages, 

 which he derives from climate, and the great 

 care exercised in breeding and rearing him by 



