172 



ThE Book of the Horse. 



dodge; and having equipped myself altogether a V Anglais (that is, with shoes, a straw hat, 

 and thick stick), I addressed a boy, beginning my conversation (as all Englishmen are 

 supposed to do) with a strongish expletive, and continuing my inquiry in very bad English, 



EGVl'TIAN DONKEY AND HOY 



as all Englishmen do, in the idea, I suppose, that because the natives speak a broken language, 

 they will digest it better if broken up ready for their use. The bait took, as the boy's answer 

 convinced me — 'Here, master, yoti very good jackass.' We went a long ride down to Shoubra 

 Gardens (I was then at Boulac), and the boy kept uj), with the gravest possible face, a 

 desultory conversation of the following nature. (N.B. The words in italics are supposed to 

 be said in Arabic.) The donkey stumbles. 'You bo}-, )-our donkey not good at all!' 'Yes, 



