112 THE HISTORY AND ART 



rader and diftincflion are, in a great meafure funk and 

 loft J feveral countries, like engrafted trees, producing 

 horfes, which they can hardly call their own. 



Having attempted, in the foregoing part of this 

 work, to give fome account of the regions moft 

 efteemed by the Jncients for their breeds of horfes, as 

 well as of the animals thenifelves, it remains that as 

 in the courfe of our fubjedl we are arrived at modem 

 times, we fhould alfo take a view of the horfes moft 

 valued at prefent in the different parts of the globe. 



Among thefe Arabia ftands moft eminently diftin- 

 guifhed for the excellence of its horfes, and the ad- 

 drefs of its inhabitants in riding them. Hiftorians and 

 travellers unite in the praifes of both ; yet a perfon of 

 knowledge in the Art, will, neverthelefs, be fomewhat 

 perhaps embarraffed in forming his opinion, and think 

 it neceffary to have a fuller and clearer evidence, be- 

 fore he will decree the palm to them. Happy indeed 

 would it be for the Arts, if Artijis only were its Judges, 

 and people meddled with nothing but fuch things as 

 they are qualified to underftand : but, unfortunately 

 for the prefent fubjeds, among numbers of others, it 

 isnotfo: unfortunately for us, none of the writers 

 who have touched upon it, have gone far enough into 

 it, fo as to open and explain many particulars, with 

 that accuracy and fullnefs, which alone can enable us 

 to judge of the real merit of thefe famous riders, and 

 liorfes ; for the accounts given of them are fo loofe 

 and imperfect, that it is as difficult for a real judge to 



form 



