4 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



chiefs He gives the following further interesting 

 particulars of the Arab horses : 



' The Arabs of Sahara are very particular as to 

 the colour of their horses. White is the colour for 

 princes, but does not stand heat. The black brings 

 good fortune, but fears rocky ground. The chestnut 

 is the most active. If one tells you that he has seen 

 a horse fly in the air, ask of what colour it was ; if 

 he replies, " Chestnut," believe him.' ' In a combat 

 against a chestnut you must have a chestnut.' The 

 bay is the hardiest and most sober. ' If one tells 

 you a horse has leaped to the bottom of a precipice 

 without hurting himself, ask of what colour he was, 

 and if he replies " Bay," believe him.' 



Ben Dyab, a renowned chief of the desert, hap- 

 pening one day to be pursued by Saad-el-Zenatj^, 

 turned to his son and asked, ' What horses are in 

 front of the enemy ? ' ' White horses,' replied the 

 son. 'It is well; let us make for the sunny side, 

 and the}^ will melt away like butter.' Some time 

 afterwards Ben Dyab again turned to his son and 

 said, ' What horses are in front of the enemy ? ' 

 ' Black horses,' cried his son. ' It is well ; let us 

 make for stony ground, and we shall have nothing 

 to fear ; they are the negroes of the Soudan, who 

 cannot walk with bare feet upon the flints.' He 

 changed his course, and the black horses were 

 speedily distanced. A third time Ben Dyab asked, 

 ' And now what horses are in the front of the 



