THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 221 



scribing the many exterior beauties of this animal, but 

 likewise few have met with the Arab horse who could 

 not bear testimony as to his docility, spsed, and 

 courage. 



Mr. Frazer, in his " Tartar Journey," thus describes 

 the excellencies of them : — " I am tempted to mention 

 to you one feat of an Arab horse, the property of a 

 person who has more than once been mentioned by me 

 in my letters, Aga Bahram, and which has not, as far 

 as I know, been ever doubted. This animal came 

 from Shirauz to Tehran, 520 miles, in six days ; re- 

 mained there three days, went back in five ; remained 

 at Shirauz nine, and returned again to Tehran in seven 

 days. This same gentleman told me he had once rode 

 another horse of his ow^n from Tehran to Koom, 

 twenty-four fursuiks, or about eighty-four miles, be- 

 tween the dawn of a morning near the vernal equinox, 

 and two hours before sunset — that is in about ten 

 hours. This, too, is good going ; but Aga Bahram 

 always has the best horses." 



To show the estimation in which these horses are 

 held by the Arabs themselves, numberless anecdotes 

 are related ; and poets of all nations have emulated 

 each other in tuning their praises. The following, 

 from " Sketches of Persia," by Sir John Malcolm, will 

 be found interesting : — 



" An Arab Sheick, who lived within fifty miles Oi 

 Bussorah, had a favourite breed of horses. He lost 

 one of his best mares, and could not for a long while 

 discover whether she was stolen or had strayed. Some 

 time after, a young man of a different tribe, who had 

 long wished to marry his daughter, but had always 

 been rejected by the Sheick, obtained the lady's con- 

 sent, and eloped with her. The Sheick and his follow- 

 ers pursued, but the lover and his mistress, mounted 



