THE HORSE. 181 



him rather in the light of a dainty for food, than 

 a useful creature, capable of assisting them either 

 in war or labour : riding seems a refinement that 

 the natives of Angola or Caffraria have not as yet 

 been able to attain to ; and whenever they catch 

 a horse, it is only with an intent to eat him. 



But of all countries in the world where the 

 horse runs wild, Arabia produces the most beau- 

 tiful breed, the most generous, swift, and perse- 

 vering. They are found, though not in great 

 numbers, in the deserts of that country ; and the 

 natives use every stratagem to take them. Al- 

 though they are active and beautiful, yet they 

 are not so large as those that are bred up tame ; 

 they are of a brown colour, their mane and tail 

 very short, and the hair black and tufted.* Their 

 swiftness is incredible ; the attempt to pursue 

 them in the usual manner of the chase with dogs, 

 would be entirely fruitless. Such is the rapidity 

 of their flight, that they are instantly out of view, 

 and the dogs themselves give up the vain pursuit. 

 The only method, therefore, of taking them is by 

 traps hidden in the sand, which entangling their 

 feet, the hunter at length comes up, and either 

 kills them or carries them home alive. If the 

 horse be young, he is considered among the Ara- 

 bians as a very great delicacy, and they feast up- 

 on him while any part is found remaining ; but 

 if, from his shape or vigour, he promises to be 

 serviceable in his more noble capacity, they take 

 the usual methods of taming him by fatigue and 



* Mann. Descript. tie 1* Afrique, lib. i. p. 51. 



