466 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



imported from Barbary into England have been the source of 

 some of the best turf-horses. The males are never castrated. 

 There is about him a sort of religious reverence, as a descend- 

 ant from the five which Mohammed escaped with in the Hegira. 

 "A Mussulman would not mutilate or sell the skin of the beast 

 of the Prophet." This reverence for the valuable horses has 

 done much to improve the race of horses wherever the religion 

 of Mohammed has had power. 



The African never rides the mare in war. The Asiatic or 

 Arabian never rides the horse. The reason of this may be 

 found in their different modes of warfare. The Arab is always 

 at war with his neighbor, and plans to take his enemy by sur- 

 prise. A stallion is not suitable for this, since as soon as he 

 comes into the neighborhood of the enemy, and smells the stale 

 of mares, his shrill neigh tells of his approach. The African 

 fights in an open country, and his approach can be known when 

 afar off; so he must rely on the energy, endurance, and spirit of 

 his stallions. The barb improves towards the western coast of 

 Africa, both in form and graceful action. 



Godolphin Arabian. A brief history of the Godolphin 

 Arabian may be of interest, as his blood is found mingled with 

 that of so many noted racers. He is believed to have been pre- 

 sented to Louis XIV by the Emperor of Morocco. He was so 

 little appreciated in Paris that he was then used in a water-cart. 

 A Mr. Coke bought him, and presented him to the keeper of the 

 St. James Coffee-house, who presented him to the Earl of 

 Godolphin. The horse was used by the Earl as a teaser to 

 Hobgoblin. He was allowed to cover Roxana simply because 

 Hobgoblin refused. The produce of this cross was Lath, one of 

 the best horses of his day. His excellence as a foal-getter 

 proved to be even better than that of the Darley Arabian, im- 

 ported some twenty years before. 



The Darley Arabian. The Darley Arabian was the par- 

 ent of some of England's best racing stock. He was purchased 

 at Aleppo, and bred in the desert of Palmyra. Flying Childers 

 and Bartlett's Childers were the two stallions by which the 

 blood and fame of the Darlev Arabian became famous. The 



