30 THE HORSE. 



the Canaanites went out to fight against Israel, with 

 chariots and horsemen very many. 



The horses of Arabia, and of the southern parts of Eu- 

 rope, are clearly derived from Egypt ; but whether they 

 were there bred, or imported from the south-western re- 

 gion.s of Asia, or as is more probable, brought from the in- 

 terior or northern coasts of Africa, cannot with certainty be 

 determined. 



BARB. 



At the head of the African breeds, and, perhaps, at the 

 head of all other breeds, may be placed the Barb, from 

 Barbary, and particularly from Morocco and Fez, an ani- 

 mal remarkable fox its fine a^id graceful action. It is 

 rather lower than the Arabian, seldom exceeding fourteen 

 hands and an inch. The shoulders are flat, the chest 

 round, the joints inclined to be long, and the head particu- 

 larly beautiful. The Barb is decidedly superior to the 

 Arab in form, but has not his spirit, or speed, or counte- 

 nance. 



THE DONGOLA HORSE. 



The kingdom of Dongola and the neighboring districts 

 of Egypt, and Abyssinia, contain a horse not at all like 

 any other oriental. 



The Dongola horses stand full sixteen hands high, but 

 the length of the body, from the shoulders to the quarter, 

 is considerably less. Their form, is opposite to that of the 

 Arabian or English thoroughbred, which are longer by 

 some inches than they are high. Their neck is long and 

 slender, the crest fine, and the withers sharp and high, 

 giving a beautiful fore-hand ; but the breast is too narrow, 

 the quarters and flanks too flat, and the back carped. 

 They constitute excellent war horses, from their speed, 

 durability and size. Several of them have been lately im- 

 ported into Europe, but they are little valued. 



