310 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



only to a (Jenesidek, the foal also is only Gene- 

 sidek ; and a foal only of a Nedgedi mare by 

 a Koenlan stallion is Nedgedi, and for that 

 reason you will meet amongst the latter, though 

 an inferior race, many Horses at least as 

 handsome as the first, and even the Arabs 

 cannot distinguish them without knowing the 

 dam's race. 



The Arabs have no Stud Book as is gene- 

 rally asserted, nor do they call together a 

 number of witnesses when the covering act is 

 performed, or when the foal is born : all this 

 is false ; for I often have had opportunities to 

 observe a leap in the night, where scarcely 

 any, and but casual witnesses were present. 

 They choose the best Horse amongst their own 

 or neighbouring tribe for a covering stallion, 

 which travels about, as in Europe, and it is 

 very difficult to purchase him, at least during 

 the covering: season — the Horse servino; three 

 mares daily at about one Spanish dollar each, 

 and travelling from tribe to tribe, at times to 

 a great distance. Thev allow them to cover 

 as early as two years old, and frequently the 

 mares are not older : it happens, however, 

 that not unfrequently they are worthless at 

 three or four years old. Stallions, mares, and 

 foals all graze together. 



The Arab generally rides without a bridle : 

 a halter, with a nose-band covered with iron 

 like a cavesson, serves him instead ; and in 

 lieu of a saddle their noble coursers have only 

 a piece of wadded linen with two napes for 

 stirrups fastened on their back ; and they 

 seldom have the hind feet shod, as in many 

 parts of Germany. 



The many scars, from firing, seen in almost 

 every part of the Horse, have been done on 

 purpose, for they know no other remedy for 

 roan and Horse, and even youna: children are 



covered with them. Many of their Hors>-B — 

 even two year old ones — are disfigured bv 

 scars above and beneath the fetlocks, which 

 at first I took for splents, but originate from 

 the iron manacles by which they are fastened 

 to prevent them being stolen ; for during the 

 whole of the day they remain out grazing, and 

 at times leave the camp for a considerable 

 distance : but at night every Arab has each 

 animal before his tent, ties one of their legs, 

 and having only three to dispose of they can- 

 not run far. 



The Anaze's Horses I found a much inferior 

 race, and I cannot recommend them for use 

 in European studs. 



The Arabs are indifferent about the forma- 

 tion and shape of their stallions : if he runs 

 well, is of the proper origin, and has no fu- 

 perstitious marks, they use him as such, and 

 would put him without hesitation to their best 

 mares ; whereas, the most splendid stallion, if 

 his origin is doubtful, and the marks ill-fa- 

 voured, would not get the worst mare ; and I 

 shall .speak of their superstition — the Evil Eye 

 — hereafter. In candour I must own, that 

 though the stallions may possess great faults 

 in their shape, they at the same time have 

 extraordinary qualities, for as soon as they are 

 mounted, all defects vanish : it would be al- 

 most impossible to detect any, so noble is their 

 appearance. I saw many stallions \'v ith ugly 

 hind-quarters, the tail put on very low ; but 

 when mounted, they carried their tails erect, 

 so that one doubted whether it was the same 

 Horse. A few of the finest Horses had the 

 appearance of English thorough-breds, but 

 were much more active and pleasant to ride, 

 when broken in a little in the European 

 fashion ; for, raw from the Desert, not know- 

 ing bridle or spur, which latter is never aseil 



