120 THE HISTORY AND ART 



In the fame cavern, undiftinguifli'd, fleeps 

 The humble owner, and the flocks he keeps. 



The young children will lay upon the neck, fide, 

 or crawl between the legs of the mare and foal, with- 

 out receiving the leafl hurt ; and it is even aflcrted, that 

 thefe animals are cautious how they move, left they 

 fhould incommode thefe little ones, by whom they 

 will permit every playful liberty to be taken. Their 

 matters treat them with the ntmoft fondnefs, and per- 

 feift good will and harmony fublifls between them ; 

 they are extremely nice in the care of them, and en- 

 deavour to engage them to perform what they require 

 by the gentleft means, feldom chufing to urge them 

 beyond the walk, which is their ufual pace ; but if 

 they have occafion to give the fpur, the animal no 

 fooner feels its fide touched by the toe of the Stirrup, 

 which is pointed and fliarp, fo as to anfwer the in- 

 tention of a fpur, but it fprings forward at once with 

 incredible force, runs with amazing rapidity, and leaps 

 over whatever obftruds its way, with the lightnefs and 

 vigour of a Hag ; yet is fo gentle and attentive to the 

 rider, and fo well taught, that if he fliould happen to 

 fall, it will {lop at once, tho' running at the top of its 

 fpeed. The Arabian horfes generally are of a middling 

 fize, neat and clean in their fliape and limbs, and of a 

 thin and llender figure. Their keepers feed and curry 

 them morning and night with great exacflnefs, never 

 fuffering the lead ftain to remain upon them, frequently 



wafliing 



