THE DONGOLA HORSE 23 



coat was often clipped once in tlic season. Dhura, or barley for pref(!rence, 

 was fed to the horse before and after daylight, and milk was often given in 

 the evening. During four months of the spring the horse was put out to 

 grass, and dates were given as a change in season. Water was kept in a 

 jar always standing in the stable, and the horse would often be given a 

 fresh drink before and after the heat of the day. 



"In size the Dongola horse ranges from 16 hands to about 14^? hands — 

 the usual height. The head is coarse and long from eye to muzzle, the ears 

 large, the withers high, sides somewhat flat, the hips ragged, the quarters 

 weak, the tail put on too low ; long fetlocks are preferred for speed, short 

 fetlocks for long marches. The hocks are coarse and curved, the legs 

 deficient in bone. The feet are not shod. Another fact fully appreciated 

 by the Sudani is that wdiite hoofs are less suitable for work in rocky 

 districts than black feet. The feathered heels, want of bottom, and under- 

 bred character of the horse, which is only a three-furlong courser, and has 

 not a point in common with the Arabian, tend to cause me some astonish- 

 ment at the claim to Arab descent which has been put forward by a French 

 author. The colour varies : browns, bays, and chestnuts are commonest, 

 and greys comparatively rare, though thought well of. 



" The Darfur pony bears little resemblance to the true Dongola horse, bu; 

 an admixture of the breeds has taken place since most of the Dongola 

 hoi'ses were taken south by the Dervishes. The head is more shapely, the 

 jowl more pronounced and the face less heavy ; the back is shorter than 

 that of the Dongola horse, the quarters more powerful and not sloping, the 

 hocks are straighter, the bone is more compact, the animal hai'dier, smaller, 

 but of stronger frame, well let down behind, and faster in proportion to its 

 height, which is from 13 hands 1 inch to 14 hands 1 inch as a rule. The 

 fastest runners ai-e reputed to be chestnuts ; the royal colour of the Sudan 

 is bay ; blacks are the strongest and most commonly seen, and, as in most 

 Arab-speaking countries, various superstitions are connected with the 

 combinations of colour. Thus a horse with four white feet and a blaze is 

 much admired. Three white feet, two being on the near side, is considered 

 lucky, but if the dark foot be on the near side the horse is ill-fated. If the 

 white extends to above the hock or knee of one leg only the rider will be 

 wounded in battle. If the blaze be not straight the horse will be unlucky 

 for a single owner, and he should arrange a part ownership. 



*' A proof of the quality of the Darfur horse is to be found in the method 

 of hunting ostriches in vogue among the Hamr, Saiadia, and Maharia 

 Arabs. An ostrich on being sighted is immediately pursued at full speed ; 

 the bird taking fright runs away for three or four miles. Meanwhile the 

 horseman reins in and proceeds to track the bird slowly. The ostrich 

 finding itself no longer followed and prompted by curiosity now runs back 

 at speed along its tracks ; on sighting it the horseman again pursues at a 

 gallop for a short distance, the bird dashing away as before at full speed and 

 eventually returning again at the same pace. The tactics may be repeated 

 three and four times until the ostrich shows signs of exhaustion by dropping 

 its wings instead of holding them extended above its back, at which the 

 Arab literally rides a finish up to the bird and clubs it. 



" The Darfur horse is usually picketed under trees and fed on corn 

 and camels' milk, being watered once a day, late in the afternoon, or by 



