THE HORSE. 



PLATE IV. THE HORSE. 



Although the native country of the horse cannot with 

 certainty be traced, it seems probable that he was first do- 

 mesticated in Egypt, but the precise period it is difficult to 

 settle. 1920 years before the birth of Christ, when Abra- 

 ham, having left Haran, in obedience to the divine com- 

 mand, was driven into Egypt b^the famine, which raged 

 into Canaan, Pharaoh offered him sheep and oxen, asses 

 and camels. Horses would doubtless have been added, 

 had they then existed, or liad they been subdued in Egypt. 



When, fifty years afterwards, Abraham journeyed to 

 Mount Moriah, to offer up his only son, he rode upon an 

 ass ; which with all his wealth and power, he could 

 scarcely have done had the horse been known. 



Thirty years later, when Jacob returned to Isaac with 

 Rachel and Leah, an account is given, of the number of 

 oxen, sheep, camels, goats and asses, which he sent to ap- 

 pease the anger of Esau, but not one horse is mentioned. 



It was not until twenty-four years after this, when the 

 famine devastated Canaan, and Jacob sent into Egypt to 

 buy corn, that horses are first heard of. " Wagons," pro- 

 bably carriages drawn by horses, were sent by Joseph 

 into Canaan, to bring his father to Egypt. It would seem, 

 however, that horses had been but lately introduced, or not 

 used as beasts of burden, for the whole of the corn which 

 was to be conveyed some hundred miles, and was to afford 

 sustenance for Jacob's large household, was carried on 

 asses. 



About the year 17*40 before Christ, is the period when 

 horses appear to have been used first in Egypt. They ap- 

 pear, however, to have rapidly increased and spread 

 abroad ; for when the Israelites returned into Canaan, 



