156 THE ARAB THE HORSE OF THE FUTURE 



in the IVzdle World Magazine, says that ' he and 

 Bethune Temple were on Arabs, and could count 

 on their turn if it came to jinking,' and that when 

 again and again ' the active brute, scenting danger, 

 jinked away to right or left, his stanch little Arab 

 followed him like a cat.' 



Mr. F. C. Webb, M.I.C.E., in his ' Up the Tigris 

 to Bagdad,' relates that they took on board three 

 splendid Arab horses, which he would not have 

 written if the Arab is only what some of the racing 

 gentlemen affirm. An observation like this — by the 

 way, as it were — is almost better testimony than a 

 designed panegyric. 



Professor A. B. Davidson gives a very celebrated 

 line by Imrulquars, an ancient Arabian poet, describ- 

 ing the skirmishing of the horse and the irresistible 

 impetus of his charge : 



' Attacking, fleeing, advancing, backing at once, 

 Like a block of rock swept down by the torrent from a height.' 



He gives part of another poem, in which is the 

 line : 



' My heart is with the horsemen of Yemen.' 



The reader asks why I cite this. Because I am 

 not writing for the ' knowing ones,' and I desire to 

 show beyond all cavil that, at all times, in all 

 countries, amongst all peoples, the Arab horse was 

 famous. Such fame could never have been achieved 

 for a breed that did not deserve it. 



M. Tisset, in relating his travels in ' Unknown 



