244 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



The Barbs came of course from Barbary, the 

 best of them from Morocco, Fez, and the adjacent 

 districts, and some from the interior of Tripoli. 

 Even the first to be imported were said to be 

 better shaped than any horses that had been seen 

 before in this country, and to have, in addition, 

 excellent action by nature. 



From what can be ascertained at this date, the 

 pure Arabian steed seldom, if ever, stood higher 

 than fourteen and a half hands, and rarely or 

 never became a roarer. In all probability many 

 even of the finest Arabian horses stood but four- 

 teen hands high, while plenty must have been 

 smaller still — say thirteen two or even thirteen 

 one. 



This is worth remembering when we know that 

 nearly every horse that has established a reputa- 

 tion on the English Turf has been of Eastern 

 descent. 



Probably the best of the Turkish horses were 

 descended from the horses of Arabia and of 

 Persia, though the former were for the most part 

 taller, and generally " bigger built," besides being 

 world renowned for their remarkable docility. 



At last the Commonwealth came to an end, 

 and with the accession of Charles II. to the 

 throne "the whole of England," to quote the 



