186 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



animal was entirely useless now ; that he had not only 

 kept decently his proper hoof, at his own expense, but 

 had shod this fourth foot twice to boot ; yet the other 

 two proprietors resolutely refused to shoe more than 

 their own foot" 



To steal a horse is reckoned in the Desert code 

 of morals, a highly honorable exploit, if the suf- 

 ferer be a stranger or a man of another tribe, which 

 means nearly the same thing as an enemy. Each 

 tribe forms as it were a distinct nation, occupying a 

 certain tract of land, over which it roams continually, 

 in proportion as the pasture is exhausted by the cattle. 

 Now as the whole of this space is necessary for the 

 annual subsistence of the tribe, all who encroach on 

 it are regarded as enemies and robbers, and a war 

 breaks out. Events of this kind are of frequent occur- 

 rence, and the manner of proceeding on the occasion 

 is very simple. The offence being made known, they 

 mount their horses, and endeavor to surprise the 

 aggressors' camp, and plunder their cattle. If they 

 find the enemy prepared to meet them, a parley 

 ensues, and the matter is frequently made up ; other- 

 wise they encounter each other at full speed with 

 fixed lances, which they sometimes dart, notwith- 

 standing their length, at the flying foe. The victory 

 is rarely contested ; it is decided by the first shock ; 

 and the vanquished take to flight full gallop over the 

 naked plain of the Desert. Night generally favors 



