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same time informs us of the great value of 

 fine horses in Arabia. " Ibrahim went fre- 

 quently to Rama, to inquire news of the mare, 

 which he dearly loved : he would embrace 

 her, wipe her eyes with his handkerchief; 

 would rub her with his shirt-sleeves ; would 

 give her a thousand benedictions, during whole 

 hours that be would remain talking to her. 

 < My eyes/ would he say to her, * my soul, 

 my heart, must I be so unfortunate as to have 

 thee sold to so many masters, and not keep thee 

 myself] I am poor, my antelope! Thou knowest 

 it well, my darling ! I brought thee up in my 

 dwelling as my child. I did never beat nor 

 chide thee ; I caressed thee in the proudest 

 manner. God preserve thee, my beloved ! 

 thou art beautiful, thou art sweet, thou art 

 lovely ! God defend thee from envious eyes !' 

 This man's name was Ibrahim ; being poor, he 

 had been under the necessity of allowing a mer- 

 chant of Rama, to become partner with him in 

 the possession of this mare. She was called 

 Toaisa; her pedigree could be traced on the 

 side of sire and dam for 500 years prior to ber 

 birth. The price was ^300, an enormous sum 

 iu that country." 



