334 A FINE COLT 



and who did not constantly throw up his nose. The colt 

 could piaffer, gallop in place, traverse and pirouette very 

 handily, and possessed the highest grace. His owner had 

 a light hand and a fine seat, and seemed very fond and 

 proud of his mount. I talked with him in signs suf- 

 ficiently for him to see that I understood what he was 

 doing, and he seemed equally surprised and glad to find a 

 Frank who did so. After a few moments I managed to 

 make him understand by signs what I wanted him to 

 have his horse do ; and for a mile or two my companions 

 and I enjoyed a real treat. I think, however, that I had 

 the best of it, as they were admiring the rhythmic move- 

 ments of the steed, and I was appreciative of both these 

 and his own and his master's intelligence. But the per- 

 formance was only individual cleverness; there was ap- 

 parently no teachable method in it. Some things were 

 manifestly done the wrong way, and at times it was the 

 good spirits and light feet of his Arabian which were in- 

 ducing the performance rather than the indication given 

 by the rider. 



We must not leave Egypt without a glance at one of 

 the camel-riders. The stories about the performances of 

 camels are conflicting. I can vouch for some of the crack 

 performances of horses ; I can only quote what I hear 

 about camels. There is, both in looks and action, as much 

 difference between a running and a porter camel as be- 

 tween a cart-horse and a thorough -bred. The porter- 

 camel is a thorough lourdeau. His body is a misshapen, 

 bulky mass; his hair is coarse; his limbs are big-boned 

 and awkwardly turned ; his neck is more ungainly than 

 need be ; his head unintelligent or vicious, though often 

 patient or pathetic. If aged, his under -lip hangs down 

 and flops in a most distressing manner. He is strong and 

 able, and it is from this that proceeds his endurance, for 



