CHAPTER XXAaiT. 



ON HORSES. 



"A neighing quadruped, used in war, and draught and carriage." 



Jonssoy. 



Arab horse-breeding — Obscurity respecting it — There is no Xojdean 

 breed — Pictui-e of the A.nazeh horse — lie is a bokl jumper — Is a 

 fast horse for his size — His nerve excellent, and his temper — 

 ■Causes of deterioration — How the Bedouins judge a horse — 

 'Their system of breeding and training — Their horsemanship 

 indifferent — Their prejudices — Pedigree of the thoroughbred 

 Arabian horse. 



CoxsiDERiNG the obscuiity in wliicli the whole 

 subject of Aivab horse-breeding is hidden in Eng- 

 Land, I trust that I shall be excused for venturing 

 to give a slight sketch of this interesting subject. 

 It was one that eno-ao-cd our attention more than 

 an}' other on our late journey, and which we took 

 ;.cspecial pains to understand in principle as well 

 as in detail. 



It is sino'ular that former travellers should not 

 have attempted this. Niebuhr and Burckhardt, ex- 

 haustive as they generally are, are silent here, or tell 

 us little that is correct, while latei' travellers, either 

 from lack of interest or lack of knowledge, ignore 



K 2 



