THE 



HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



CHAPTEE I. 



THE AEAB AND HIS STEED. 



The Arab is in many respects entitled to take the 

 lead among all the breeds of horses. The pace of 

 these animals is rapid and graceful ; thej are hardy, 

 and can continue travelling at the rate of from fifty 

 to sixty miles a day ; and five or six pounds weight of 

 coarse barley in the evening is a sufficient feed. The 

 horses of Arabia are divided into two classes, ignoble 

 and noble : the former they call by a name which 

 signifies ' without pedigree ; ' the latter by another 

 name, which means ' known for two thousand years.' 

 * If,' says an Arab story, ' you meet one of the faith- 

 ful in the desert mounted upon a Jcochlani, and he 

 shall say, " God bless you ! " before you can say, 

 ^' And God's blessing upon you," he shall be out of 

 your horizon, for the whirlwind toils after him in 

 vain.' 



^^ B 



