10 THE irORST': AND ITS DISEASES. 



and of the south-eastern i^art of Europe, were clearly 

 derived from Egypt, but whether they were imported 

 from the south-western part of the world, or, as is more 

 probable, brought from the interior, or northern coast 

 of Africa, cannot with certainty be determined. 



The Wild Horse. 



Troups of wild horses are found on the plains of 

 Great Tartary, and also in several parts of South America. 

 All travellers who have crossed the plains, extending 

 from the shores of La Plata to Patagonia, have spoken 

 of numerous droves of wild horses, which roam at large 

 over these extensive plains. Some affirm that they 

 have seen ten thousand in one troop ; they appear to be 

 under the influence of a leader, the strongest and boldest 

 of the herd, whom they implicitly obey. A secret 

 instinct teaches them that their safety consists in their 

 union. The lion, the tiger, and the leopard are their 

 principal enemies. At the sound of some signal, intelli- 

 gible only to themselves, they eitlicr close in a dense 

 mass around Iheii' enemy, and trample him to death, or 

 placing the mares and foals in the centre, form themselves 

 into a circle, and welcome their enemy with their heels. 

 Their leader is the first to attack the common foe, and 

 when prudence dictates a retreat, they follow him in his 

 rapid flight. 



In no part of America, nor of the more newly dis- 

 covered islands of the Pacific, was the horse known until 

 it was introduced by Europeans ; and the origin of the 

 horses of Tartary is traced to those who were employed 

 in the siege of Azophe in 1657, but which were tiumed 

 at large for want of forage. Troops of wild horses are 

 occasionally met with in Central Africa, the island of 

 St. Domingo, and in the deserts of Ai-abia. 



The wild horses of Tartary, although easily domesti- 

 cated, differ in character from those on the plains of 

 South America ; they will not suffer a stranger to join 

 them. If a domesticated horse comes in their way. 



