THE HORSE HISTORY. 465 



we have descended the stream of time, and along the course of 

 the emigration of the Arabs, with their horse, bred from their 

 best ancient stock, from the plains east of Egypt to the coun- 

 try along the coasts of Africa, that the people and horses de- 

 cline in courage and value as we approach the African slave- 

 trade region. Some of the tribes neighboring Egypt will not 

 own a good horse, or if they should, they deform or injure it to 

 prevent the Egyptian and Turkish tyrants from robbing them 

 of their horses. The improvement of the breeds of horses 

 seems to be influenced by the liberty and independence of the 

 people as well as the character of soil and climate. 



Although the Arab horse and his descendant, the barb, have 

 done so much for the improvement of the horse of modern 

 times, it is not capable of proof that, in very early times, the 

 horse could be found in Arabia. Solomon imported spices, 

 gold, and silver from Arabia, but not horses. He procured them 

 from Egypt, which at that time led the world as a civilized 

 power. Egypt exported horses into Arabia as presents to reign- 

 ing monarchs. In the fourth century the Roman Emperor sent 

 two hundred Cappadocian horses as a present to a powerful 

 prince in Arabia. As late as the seventh century the Arabs 

 must have had few horses. Mohammed could muster only two 

 horses when he attacked the Koreish near Mecca; nor did he 

 get a single horse from the vanquished. 



The history of the horse in Barbary shows that, though the 

 common horse of that country is a very inferior animal, just 

 such as years of debasement and degradation of a nation must 

 produce, yet the infusion of Arab blood in the best parts of the 

 country has produced a vast improvement. Those about 

 Morocco, Fez, and the interior of Tripoli are the best. Though 

 rather lower than the Arab, seldom exceeding fourteen hands, 

 the general form is thought by many superior to the Arab, 

 yet they lack the courage, spirit, speed and endurance of the 

 best Arab. 



Influence of Barb on Arab and English Horse. 

 The Godolphin Arabian was a true barb, and to him is traced 

 some of the best racing blood in England. The African mares 



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