24 THE HISTORY A N D A R T 



made an ungraceful and aukward appearance, having 

 their necks ftrait and extended, and carrying their nofes 

 upwards, or in the air (capitibus ake Jlantibus). Many 

 authors imagine this breed to be the fame with that of 

 Lybia, or as this traift now is called, Barbary, famous 

 for its excellent horfes, celebrated for their fpeed, 

 wind, and patience of fatigue. Xenophon and Oppian 

 agree in giving them this charadler; and Mian bellows 

 upon them the fame commendations, defcribing them 

 to be of a lean habit of body, and of a {lender mould, 

 not requiring much care or attendance from their 

 keepers, but living hardly, and content with fuch food 

 as they find in the fields, into which they are turned as 

 foon as the rider quits their backs, without farther care 

 or notice The prefent treatment of them correfponds, 

 in a great degree, with this account, nor is the de- 

 fcription of them unlike that already related of their 

 anceftors. 



Silius Jtalicus * fpeaking of the Carthaginians fighting 

 with the Romans, mentions the peculiar manner of 

 riding among thefe people, and many other autho- 

 rities confirm the praiSlice f. 



It is neverthelefs, in fome degree, difficult to con- 

 ceive, how a wand or flick could be powerful enough 

 to guide or control a fpirited or obilinate horfe in the 

 violence of his courfe, or in the tumults of battle : — 

 but the attention, docility, and memory of the animal 



* Punic, lib. 4. 



•}- Livy, lib. xxxviL c. 20. 



arc 



