FAMOUS ARABIAN HORSES 35 



were offered as brides to the Dzigguetai and accepted. 

 The result gave everything most valued in the horse, as 

 well as his matchless beauty.' 



Do they differ greatly in colour and appearance ? 



' The Nedj and Osman have always a black skin under 

 their coat, whether it be white or black. The Osman is 

 usually the colour of a golden chestnut or blood cherry, with 

 dark mane and tail, while these equipments in the Nedj are 

 rose-coloured or sorrel. The Abdallah are a warm grey, 

 inclining to black, with dark mane and tail— the Arabian 

 term to express their colour, translated, meaning green. 

 The Mahommed is light brown or cafe an lait in colour, 

 sometimes dark enough to be called bay. The Dakir is 

 a dark shining brown, and the manes and tails of all are 

 long, fine and full, but not heavy.' 



Do they wear shoes ? A great traveller, one who had 

 lived in South America, and there owned Arabian horses, 

 told me they were never shod in that country. 



' As their hoofs are hard as iron, they need no shoes, and 

 die at an advanced age without having ever worn them.' 



What are the distinguishing marks by which one can tell 

 an Arabian ? 



' The pure-bred Arab is small, with such fineness of skin, 

 that through it, the veins can be clearly traced. The head 

 is small and lean, with bold open nostrils, thin as card- 

 board. Very broad between the eyes, which are large and 

 soft, and look at you with an expression of human in- 

 telligence. Ears small and erect, fine and thin as a kid 

 glove. Mane full and long, not heavy. Tail almost 

 touching the earth when standing, but lifted out wtien 

 in motion, and waving to and fro like an ostrich plume. 

 Thighs, fore and hind, immense. The frontal bone below 



