ARABIA 29 



press any opinion. Among horsemen in Europe who study 

 the different breeds, it is believed they belonged to the 

 Levantine family, being showy, stylish, strong, and with 

 many fine points.' 



Have you any other reason for believing so ? 



'As I have said before, these rare breeds which I have 

 mentioned are considered so precious that every pre- 

 caution is taken, not only by the owners, but by the 

 whole tribe, to prevent their loss by sale or intrigue. The 

 Arabs, with all their peculiar creeds of hospitality, have 

 never arrived at that state of civilisation which could 

 induce them to give away such treasures. If an owner 

 should be tempted by an enormous price to part with a 

 mare or stallion — there are no geldings — he would be put 

 to death by his tribe, while the man who had the temerity 

 to seek such a purchase must do so at the risk of his life. 



' Every horse lives inside his owner's tent, and is the pet 

 and delight of the women and children, and quite as much 

 a part of the family. Their intelligence is almost human, 

 as they answer in obedience to every word, and are so 

 trained as to help their owners in defeating any attempt 

 to carry them off. 



'The endurance of the Arab horse is almost inconceiv- 

 able. From the days when Noah's ark settled on Mount 

 Ararat, and his sons descended to the plains of Shinar, 

 or from those of Nimrod, his great-grandson, the " mighty 

 hunter," down to the present day, the Arab has been bred 

 to endure long days of continuous toil, semi-starvation and 

 thirst.' 



' His genealogy is established with that of the Ishmaelites. 

 To-day, the Bedouin tribes who lead a nomadic and 

 pastoral life in the Euphrates Valley desert (although 



