1 26 THE HISTORY AND ART 



neighbonrlng countries ; and Dr. Shaw * afferts, that 

 they are preferable to thofc of Barbary, both in good- 

 nefs, beauty, and fize, being indebted for the 1 aft to the 

 fruitfuhiefs of the foil, which affords great nourifh- 

 ment, and for tlie former to the Arabian blood which 

 flows in their veins. This country is faid to have two 

 diftincfl breeds, one of its own, the other Arabian. 

 This latter fort are fo highly valued, that numbers are 

 purchafed to be fent to Conftantinople ; but the defpo- 

 tifm of the government is fuch, that the breeders are 

 afraid and difcouraged from raifmg a noble race, as 

 they are certain almoft of having them taken from them 

 without any price paid, or fatisfadion given ; fo that 

 the owners of fine horfes, will frequently lame or ble- 

 mifli them, that the Beys may not like them, and take 

 them away by force f. 



Mibiopia has fo little intcrcourfe with the reft of the 

 world, that much concerning it cannot be known. Some 

 writers, however aflert, that it originally gave Arabia 

 the fine breed of horfes which it fo long has boafted. 

 Others think that ^Ethiopia owes its race of horfes to 

 Arabia. The horfes are generally reported to be ftrong, 

 nimble, and mettlefome, and (like the MenJ black. They 

 are kept facred from common and ignoble labours, not 

 fuffered to travel long and fatiguing journeys, but re- 

 ferved for the nobler tafks of battle, or the courfe, the 

 ordinary work being performed by mules. They wear 



* Shaw's Travels, chap. ii. 

 -|- Vid. Maillet and Pococke. 



4 no 



