88 LIGHT HORSES : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



burst, trying to the full the speed, stamina, sure-footedness, 

 cleverness, and jumping power of the horse, as of the nerve 

 and strength of the horseman riding for the spear. 



Hard on his track o'er the open' and facing 



The deviFs own country, the pick of the chase, 



Mute as a dream, his pursuers are racing, 

 Silence, you know, 's the criterion of pace. 



(WHYTE-MELVILLE, slightly altered.) 



11 He who hesitates is lost ; for the mighty boar has a high 

 turn of speed, is in rare galloping trim, and takes the rock- 

 scarped nullah, the prickly-pear fence with its festering spines, 

 and whatever comes in his way in his quick, resolute stride. 

 What cares he for yawning fissured regur soil, for boulder- 

 strewn ground, or for sheet rock as slippery as glass ? His 

 thick hide is impervious to thorn of stunted babul or khair, to 

 lance-pointed aloe, or sword-like wild pine. Though showing 

 honourable scars a wild hog will rip up a horse with as much 

 ease and as little ceremony as a huntsman paunches a hare 

 the Arab, accustomed to the sport, will course the boar, stick- 

 ing to him, following every turn and wrench, and going open- 

 mouthed at him. Where the cloven-footed robber goes, there 

 he follows, fearing no fall, refusing nothing ; his heart as much 

 in the contest as if he were the rider and not the ridden. 

 Weight appears to make little difference to these small horses, 

 their short stride and quick recovery enabling them to carry 

 men seemingly much beyond their scope. 



" During the last few seasons Arabs have been distinguish- 

 ing themselves with hounds. No day appears too long for 

 them, no country too big, and they make light of the proverbial 

 three days a fortnight. One mare, fourteen years old, that 

 had never seen an English fence in her life, negotiated her 

 way over a bank country at the first time of asking, in a 

 manner worthy of an accomplished huntress. Naomi has the 

 credit of having, with thirteen stone on her back, over and 

 over again cut down her field in Suffolk. Miss Dillon's mare, 

 Raschida, has carried off eight jumping prizes in public con- 

 tests, and that lady's three stallions, El Emir, Eldorado and 



