THE MODERN ARAB 33 



let down, nor the hind-legs so greyhound-like, as in the thoroughbred 

 English horse. In stride, too, he is somewhat different, inasmuch as it is a 

 nuiiuli'r way of going, and is not so extended or so near the ground, but is 

 more like a bound. However, there are exceptions; and I have bred pure 

 Arabs whose stride, for their size, was very extended, and quite like that of 

 English race-horses." 



THE MARE is commonly supposed to be more highly prized by the Arabs 

 than the stallion ; but this idea is said to be unfounded by the celebrated 

 Abd el Kader, in a highly interesting letter to General Daumas, which is 

 published in the fifth number of Batty* s Magazine of Sports. He remarks : 



"It is true that the foal proceeds from the sire and from the dam, but 

 the experience of ages has proved that the essential parts of the body 

 such as the bones, the tendons, the nerves, and the veins proceed always 

 from the sire. This is beyond all doubt. The meanest Arab knows now 

 that any malady specially belonging to the bones, under which the sire 

 may be suffering at the time of covering, will be perpetuated in his produce, 

 such as splints, bone and blood spavins, the shape of the bones, and all 

 diseases of the vertebral column. The dam may give to her produce colour, 

 and a certain amount of resemblance in form, the foal naturally partaking 

 of some of the qualities of the animal which had so long borne it ; but it is 

 an incontestable fact, that it is the sire who gives strength to the bones, 

 substance to the tendons, vigour to the nerves, rapidity of pace, in short, 

 all the principal qualities. He also communicates what may be called 

 moral qualities, and if he be unquestionably of high blood the foal is pre- 

 served from vice. Our fathers have said, El aond por ma audouche hiela 

 ' A horse of noble race has no vices.' An Arab will lend his stud horse 

 gratuitously ; he never accepts payment for his services. To hire out a 

 stud horse for money is, in the eyes of an Arab, an unworthy action, and is 

 contrary to the generosity for which he is renowned, and although the law 

 allows it, I have never known an instance of it. But though the Arab 

 lends his stud horse gratuitously, he does not do so to the first comer, nor 

 for any mare. No ; the suppliant is often obliged to make use of the inter- 

 cession of persons of great interest, or even of his wives, if he would not 

 see his request refused. On the other hand, the Arabs are very difficult in 

 their choice of a stud horse, and if they cannot find one of pure blood, they 

 prefer leaving their mares unproductive rather than put them to a common 

 horse. To procure a good sire they do not hesitate to travel any distance. 

 The proceeding has already intimated to you my conclusion, that the sire 

 has more to do with the foal than the dam. And my conclusion is identical 

 with the universal opinion of the Arabs. They say, El hor ilebal elfahal 

 'The foal follows the sire.' " 



In corroboration of this opinion, he describes the Arab horses as dis- 

 tinguished under the following heads : " El Horr, El Hadjim, El Mekueref, 

 and El Berdoune. El Horr is that in which sire and dam are both of noble 

 race ; that takes the lead. El Iladjim is that in which the sire is noble 

 and the dam of common race ; it is considered less than El Horr, its name 

 /f<"?/iin, 'defective,' being derived from the word ' HurdjissJ which signifies 

 faulty. El M<'kueref is that in which the dam is high-bred and the sire is 

 half-bred ; although this approaches the ffadjim, it is of much less value. 

 The name of this class is derived from ' haraf? mixed. El Hadjim is 



D 



