HISTORY OF THE HORSE. 149 



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their lives for their master's benefit." In the 

 desert he is the familiar comrade, tentmate and 

 playmate of his master, as docile and intelligent as 

 a dog. Rev. V. Monro relates an anecdote of an 

 Arab, " the net value of whose dress and accoutre- 

 ments might be calculated at something under 

 seventeen pence half-penny," who refused all of- 

 fers made to purchase a beautiful mare on which 

 he rode, declaring that he loved the animal better 

 than his own life. The French author, Dr. St. 

 Pierre, quotes a remarkable instance of the 

 attachment an Arabian feels for his horse : " The 

 whole stock of a poor Arabian of the desert con- 

 sisted of a most beautiful mare. The French 

 Consul at Said offered to purchase her, with an 

 intention of sending her to his master, Louis 

 XIV. The Arab, pressed by want, hesitated for 

 a long time, but at length consented, on condi- 

 tion of receiving a very considerable sum, which 

 he named. The Consul, not daring, without 

 instructions, to give so high a price, wrote to 

 Versailles for permission to close the bargain on 

 the terms stipulated. Louis XIV gave orders 



