292 NAYIX ox THE HORSE. 



qualities depend the happiness and subsistence of millions? 

 In this vie^y Joseph becomes not only the temporal benefactor 

 of his own family and nation by having been sold into Egypt, 

 but of the human family generally. Surely "he was sent to 

 prepare the way of life." 



The Greeks affirm, in their Mythology, that Neptune struck 

 the earth with his trident, and the horse appeared. But it is 

 certain that those parts of Greece most celebrated for their 

 horsemen were originally colonies from Egypt. The horse 

 was evidently introduced into Greece from Egypt. The 

 Olympic games, including chariot and horse-races, were insti- 

 tuted in Greece about 1450 years before the birth of Christ. 



T^otwithstanding the superiority of the Arabian horses, their 

 introduction into that country is of comparatively recent date. 

 Ill the seventh century, when Mohammed fought the Korcish 

 near Mecca, it is stated that he had but two horses in his 

 whole army, and after the slaughter, large numbers of other 

 animals are stated to have been carried off, but no mention is 

 made of horses. The Arabs had few horses as late as the 

 seventh century, and they were not noted for their excellence. 

 Two hundred horses were presented a powerful Arabian prince 

 by the Roman Emperor, in the seventh century. These Avere 

 Cappadocian horses. About the same time others were intro- 

 duced into Arabia. These horses were preserved with the 

 greatest care, and from such importations is said to have 

 sprung the justly celebrated Arabian stock. 



This view of the origin of the Arabian horse does not agree 

 with the observations of Layard. Among the remains of the 

 cities of the desert, particularly Nineveh and Babylon, were 

 found sculptured images of the horse, which are almost perfect 

 representations of the Arabian of the present day. They are 

 to be seen in the British Museum. Layard is convinced of 

 the very great antiquity of many of the Arabian horses, 

 whether the stories of their owners be true or not. 



Not only Arabia and Greece, but even Persia derived her 



