THE HORSE. 31 



THE ARABIAN . 



Going farther eastward, we arrive at Arabia, whose 

 horses deservedly occupy the very highest rank. 



There are said to be three breeds or varieties of Ara- 

 bian horses : the AltecJci, or inferior breed, on which they 

 set little value, and which are found wild on some parts 

 of the deserts ; the Kadischi, literally horses of an un- 

 known race, answering to our half breed horses a mixed 

 breed ; and the Kotchlani horses whose genealogy, accord- 

 ing to the Arab account, is known for two thousand years. 



The Arabian horse would not be acknowledged by 

 every judge to possess a perfect form ; his head, however, 

 is inimitable. The broadness and squareness of the fore- 

 head, the shortness and firmness of the muzzle, the promi- 

 nency and brilliancy of the eye, the smallness of the ears, 

 and the beautiful course of the veins, will always charac- 

 terise the head of the Arabian horse. 



The Barb alone excels him in noble and spirited ac- 

 tion ; and if there be defects about him, he is perfect for 

 that for which he was designed. He presents the true 

 combination of speed and bottom strength enough to carry 

 more than a light weight, and courage that would cause 

 him to die rather than give up. 



Several interesting anecdotes are related of the Ara- 

 bian. A few of these may not be unacceptable to our 

 readers. When, the Arab falls from his mare, observes a 

 writer, and is unable to rise, she will immediately stand 

 still, and neigh until assistance arrives. If he lies down 

 to sleep, as fatigue sometimes compels him, in the midst of 

 the desert, she stands watchful over him, and neighs and 

 rouses him if either man or beast approaches. An old 

 Arab had a valuable mare that had carried him for fifteen 

 years in many a hard fought battle, and in many a rapid, 



