PACHYDERM ATA. 1G7 



in Egypt, who, it is said, gave bread to the famishing in exchange 

 for horses ; and when the remains of the patriarch, Jacob, were 

 removed from Egypt to Canaan for burial, we read "there went 

 up with him both chariots and horsemen." This shows that 

 horses were used both for draught and burden 1650 years before 

 the birth of Christ, which is earlier than the date of any profane 

 history in relation to this subject. The Egyptian and Nubian 

 horses are still among the handsomest, but Arabia bears the palm 

 in producing the most beautiful breed of horses, and also the 

 most generous, swift, courageous and persevering. "The Arab 

 treats his horse as one of his family ; it lives in the same tent 

 with him, eats from his hand, and sleeps among his children, who 

 tumble about on it without the least fear. Few Arabs can be in- 

 duced to part with a favorite horse." It is related that " an Arab, 

 the net value of whose dress and accouterments might be calcu- 

 lated at under seven pence half penny, refused all offers made to 

 purchase a beautiful mare on which he rode, and declared that 

 he loved the animal better than his own life." The Arabian 

 horses are in height not often more than fourteen hands two 

 inches. They are found, though not in great numbers, in the 

 deserts of that country, and the natives make use of every strat- 

 agem to take them, reserving the most promising for breeding, 

 and instead of crossing, as is done in other countries, taking 

 every pains to keep the breed pure. Some have supposed that 

 to Arabia we are indebted for the primitive breed of this noble 

 animal and its subjugation to the use of man. Mr. Bell, how. 

 ever, who is high authority in this subject, says in his "History 

 of British Quadrupeds," "there is great reason to conclude that 

 it was only at a comparatively late period that they were em. 

 ployed by that people. While Solomon was receiving from 

 Arabia treasures of various kinds, it was from Egypt only that 

 Jiis horses were brought. There appears great probability in the 

 opinion that Egypt, or its neighborhood, is the original country, 

 and still more that this extraordinary people first rendered it sub. 

 servient to man, and subsequently distributed it to other coun. 

 tries." 



In Brande's Dictionary of Science, &c., it is remarked that 

 " wild horses appear to be free from nearly all those diseases to 

 which the domestic breed are prone." 



The wild horse is found in immense numbers in the vast 

 plains of Great Tartary, and also in South America in the rich 

 pampas extending from La Plata to Paraguay. The wild horses 

 of South America are undoubtedly descended from those of An- 

 dalusia, originally carried thither by the Spanish conquerors. 



