16 The Horse Farrier. 



winds of the desert in winter. The saddle is rarely- 

 taken from their backs. Cleaning and grooming are 

 strangers to them. They sometimes reach fifteen 

 hands in height, and never fall below fourteen. In 

 disposition, they are as docile as lambs, requiring no 

 guide but a halter ; yet in the flight or pursuit their 

 nostrils become blood red, their eyes glitter with fire, 

 the neck is arched, and the main and tail are raised and 

 spread to the wind ; the whole animal becomes trans- 

 formed. Their value is so great, that a thorough-bred 

 mare is generally owned by ten, or even more persons, 

 and one can rarely be obtained, except by fraud and 

 excessive bribery. A stallion may be obtained, though 

 at a great price. The reason is, that on account of its 

 fleetness and jjower of endurance, it is invaluable to the 

 Bedouin, who, once on his back, can defy any pursuer. 

 An American racer, or even an English hunter, would 

 break down, in those pathless deserts, almost before an 

 Arabian became warmed up to its work. Layard 

 thinks that no Arabian of the best blood has been seen 

 in England. If this is so, we can scarcely suppose tha£ 

 any have come to America, but must believe the so- 

 called Arabians, given to our government at various 

 times, to be of inferior breeds. Rarely, indeed, are 

 the thorough breeds found beyond the desert. It will 

 be a subject of regret, to those who admire fine horses, 

 to learn that the Arabian is considered to be degener- 

 ating ; the consequence of the subjugation of Arabia, 

 and the decline of the Bedouin tribes. 



