GREEK AND ARAB EXPRESSIONS. 25 



The Greek warrior adds : ' A horse must also move 

 his hoofs when he is rubbed down, or when he is annoyed 

 with flies, as much as when he is walking ; and the stones 

 which are thus spread about strengthen the frogs of the 

 feet.' In another book he' repeats the suggestion as to 

 the improvement of the feet by this kind of pavement, 

 and adds, ' He that makes trial of this suggestion will give 

 credit to others which I shall offer, and will see the feet of 

 his horse become firm.' The word SrpoyyuXoy^, here 

 employed to denote firmness, has evidently the same 

 signification as the Latin word teres: that is, something 

 smooth, round, and of a proper shape, indicative of 

 strength, soundness, and durability. 



It is curious to note a similar expression in use at the 

 present day among the Arabs of the Sahara. ' The hoof 

 round and hard. The hoof should resemble the cup of 

 a slave. They walk on hoofs hard as the moss-covered 

 stones of a stagnant pool. The frogs hard and dry. The 

 frogs concealed beneath the hoofs are seen when he lifts 

 his feet, and resemble date-stones in hardness.' ^ 



Furthermore, Xenophon says : ' Those horses whose 

 feet are hardened with exercise, will be as superior on 

 rough ground to those which are not habituated to it, 

 as persons who are sound in their limbs to those who are 

 lame.' In the same work, when treating of the duties 

 pertaining to a commander of cavalry, he dwells on the 

 necessity of attending to the horses' feet : ' You must pay 

 attention to their feet, so that they (the horses) may be in 

 a condition to be ridden even on rough ground, knowing 



' Hipparchicus, p. 611. 

 * Dumas : The Horses of the Sahara. 



