HORSES. 



The Horfe, like man, is indigenous to the high table-lands of Afia. From his original 

 name, in3, Paras, are derived the names of nations known only as horfemen, fuch as 

 Perfians, Parthians, Parfis, and, perhaps, Pruffians ; and the onomatopoeia " Prs/li" is ufed 

 in every part of Europe ftill occupied by the Slavonic race to flop the horfe in his 

 movements. The flaming infcription feen at Belfhazzar's feaft announced to the doomed 

 monarch the approach of his enemies, the Perfians, whofe name Hebrew copyifts miftook 

 for Phares, when it was D'uns, Parajim. The Germanic name of the horfe, Pferd, Perd, 

 Paerd, may eafily be. traced to the original Paras, and the Slavonic onomatopoeia Prsfh. 

 The Ethiopian Pars, the Arabian Feres, the Saxon Hors, have, as near as poffible, the 

 fame etymology. 



Through variations of habits, of climates, of temperature, the primary form of the 

 horfe has been greatly modified, and a fimilar change, imperceptible but fure, is ftill 

 proceeding from the fame caufes. The Egyptian horfe of the Delta in ancient times is 

 more like a Dutch horfe of our days than his Aflyrian contemporary. The reafon of this 

 refemblance is, that the Egyptian horfe of the Delta treading, like the Netherlandifh horfe, 

 on elafliic ground, in rich pafiiures, acquired a greater mufcular development, at the expenfe 

 of the nervous fyflem, and became more fit to draw a heavy chariot with meafured ftep 

 than to carry a horfeman, with the rapidity of an arrow, upon ftony or uneven ground. 

 Such is probably the reafon why, in ancient pidtures and monuments, an Egyptian warrior 

 is never reprefented on horfeback, but always appears in a light war-chariot, drawn by 

 feveral horfes. Of the Egyptian horfes of modern times, Bruce fays " that the figure they 

 would make in point of fwiftnefs is very doubtful, their form being entirely different from 

 that of the Arabian ; but beautiful and fymmetrical parts, great fize and flirength, the moft 

 agile, nervous, and elaftic movements, great endurance of fatigue, docility of temper, 

 and, beyond any other animal, feeming attachment to man," render, perhaps, the Dongola, 

 or Nubian horfe, in no way inferior to the Arabian. They have, according to Youatt, 

 " a flender, yet finely fet on neck, a noble creft, the withers elevated, a beautiful adion, 

 and an admirable bearing." The kingdom of Dongola, or Modern Nubia, produces a 



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