HOESES OF THE PAST 519 



stock whose high renown spread at a later period through the whole 

 world. 



The importance of the Eastern horse no horseman will dispute, and the 

 investigation of equine pedigrees will show how largely the Arab horse has 

 contributed to the perfection of almost every breed of horse in existence, 

 which has been effected by the impression he made upon indigenous stock. 



It is thought that the use of the ass and the camel preceded that of 

 the horse. Such might have been the case, but we must remember that 

 during the early historic period these animals were used for different 

 purposes, the ass and the camel to carry burdens — namely, tents and their 

 furniture. When Jacob took his departure from Laban, his goods, wives, 

 and children were placed on the backs of camels, and his sons conveyed 

 the corn they obtained from Egypt on asses; yet at the same time Jacob 

 and his sons recognized that horses jDOSsessed qualities that rendered them 

 valuable, for we read : " They brought their cattle unto Josejjh, and Joseph 

 gave them bread in exchange for horses and for the flocks, and the cattle 

 of the herds", &c. The pastoral life which Jacob and his sons enjoyed 

 did not necessitate the use of the spirited horse, which in early times was 

 employed almost exclusively for war, and whose hoofs, previously to the 

 discovery of the art of shoeing, would have worn down to the quick during 

 those long journeys which the ass and the camel were capable of performing 

 with impunity. But the nervous temperament, showy action, and activity 

 of movement marked the horse out as a likely assistant in battle, and as 

 a conspicuous feature at pageants; and thus we learn that when Joseph 

 carried his father's body to Canaan, he " had with him a large company 

 of chariots and horsemen ", which held a conspicuous position in the funeral 

 procession. This is the first time the Scripture mentions the subjugation 

 of the horse, but there is little doubt that he had been employed by 

 the Egyptians long before this period, and for many years afterwards 

 the breeding of horses was encouraged. This resulted in the production 

 of a fine stock, which Pharaoh was able to select from. when he pursued 

 the Israelites across the Red Sea, with " six hundred chosen chariots, and 

 all the chariots of Egypt ". But before this period communities of men 

 had collected together to form nations. About the year 2217 B.C. Nimrod 

 is supposed to have founded tlie Babylonian Empire and Assur the Assyrian 

 monarchy, and these states, according to Ctesias, had studied science and 

 art, fashioned implements of war, yoked horses to the chariot, and had 

 trained the charger to undergo the fatigues of battle, before Moses was 

 born (1571 B.C.). Although such was the case, hi.story does not much 

 assist us in determining the class of horse that was employed during 

 these periods, nor does it inform us whether the horse was found wild in 



