THE HORSE. 183 



to improve their beauty ; so that at present they 

 possess a race of the most beautiful horses in the 

 world, with which they drive a trade, and furnish 

 the stables of princes at immense prices. 



There is scarcely an Arabian, how poor soever, 

 but is provided with his horse.* They in general 

 make use of mares in their ordinary excursions, 

 experience having taught them that they support 

 fatigue, thirst, and hunger, better than the horses 

 are found to do. They are also less vicious, of a 

 gentler nature, and are not so apt to neigh. They 

 are more harmless also among themselves, not so 

 apt to kick or hurt each other, but remain whole 

 days together without the least mischief. The 

 Turks, on the contrary, are not fond of mares ; 

 and the Arabians sell them such horses as they do 

 not choose to keep for stallions at home. They 

 preserve the pedigree of their horses with great 

 care, and for several ages back. They know 

 their alliances, and all their genealogy ; they dis- 

 tinguish the races by different names, and divide 

 them into three classes. The first is that of the 

 nobles, the ancient breed, and unadulterated on 

 either side ; the second is that of the horses of 

 the ancient race, but adulterated ; and the third 

 is that of the common and inferior kind. The 

 last they sell at a low price ; but those of the first 

 class, and even of the second, amongst which are 

 found horses of equal value to the former, are 

 sold extremely dear. They know, by long ex- 

 perience, the race of a horse by his appearance j 



* Buffon. 



