34 MY HORSE ; MY LOVE 



Is there not some strange legend concerning Arabian 

 horses, Count ? 



* Yes, and it is said to be a true one. The legend is 

 this : During the reign of Mohammed he sent his grand 

 vizier with his army, in the hope of conquering China. For 

 five years they travelled over mountain and valley, through 

 forest and desert, climbing rocky precipices to descend on 

 the other side into the rivers and streams. Unparalleled 

 hardships befell them on their long journey thither, and 

 were not lightened on their return, inasmuch as every horse 

 died on the road except five beautiful mares. From these 

 and the Dzigguetai (pronounced Gigati) are descended the 

 five rare breeds so closely guarded by the Arab tribes.' 



What are the Dzigguetai ? 



* They are the wild Arabian stallions of the desert, out- 

 matching and outwitting the wary and cunning Arab in his 

 various devices to approach them, never letting them get 

 nearer than half a mile. After exhausting every other 

 artifice, the Arabs have lain concealed in the desert, by 

 being buried in the sand, for days and nights in their fruit- 

 less efforts to secure them. But these untamed and un- 

 tamable creatures, with their intelligent instinct, ever 

 scented danger from afar, and kept their half-mile distance 

 between themselves and their would-be captors. Their 

 strength and endurance are greater than that of the Mohari, 

 the desert camel, and they are far more fleet. These 

 powerful runners brook no rider, no whip, spur or bridle, 

 nor have they ever been captured or broken by man. 

 Here was a dilemma ! So it occurred to the far-seeing 

 Arabian that this race could at least be perpetuated and 

 improved by arranging some equine marriages. Picketing 

 the five beautiful mares near their hunting-grounds, they 



