THE DONGOLA RACE. 229 



colour, with black limbs, and so vicious that the 

 owner at length broke his neck, at the risk of losing 

 his own life. 



THE DONGOLA RACE. 

 PLATE X.* 



Nubia possesses horses, considered by Mr. Bruce 

 as far superior to the Arab, though not of African 

 origin, but introduced at the time of the Moham- 

 medan conquest, and pretended to be descended 

 from the five horses ridden by the prophet, his 

 companions Abubekr, Omar, Atman, and Ali, on 

 the night of the hegira, when they fled together 

 from Mecca! But among them, perhaps Atman 

 must have been some believer of Turkoman or of 

 Genseric's blood, since the cast of horses in Dongola 

 is often black, of a stature rising above sixteen 

 hands, with ample manes and tails. They are found 

 at Alfaia, Gerri, and Dongola, where the sandy 

 desert produces scarcely any pasturage, and that 

 only consisting in roots more than leaf. With forms 

 already noticed in the Bornou breed, and differing 

 in proportion from the Arab, they are nevertheless 

 remarkably handsome, tall, powerful, and active; 

 very supple, capable of great fatigue, docile, and 

 attached to their masters. Mr. Bruce estimated 

 the weight carried by the charger of the Prince, 

 when he and his horse were accoutred in full ar- 

 mour, at no less than three hundred pounds. Those 

 of Alfaia and Gerri are not so large as the Dongo- 

 lese ; their usual colours are bay* black, and white. 



