< H. xxviu.] How a Bcdoitin judges a Horse. 259 



as exceptional, yet adequate causes of degeneracy 

 anion 2; the rank and file of the Bedouin horses 

 north of Jebel Shammar, 



It is difficult to understand how it happens that 

 the pure Arabian race should have in fact retained 

 as much of its good quality as it has. In all agos 

 and in all parts of Arabia, to say nothing of the 

 points I have already mentioned, an unpractical 

 system of breeding has prevailed, due in part to 

 prejudice, and in part to peculiarities of climate and 

 soil. To begin with, there has been the extra- 

 ordinary prejudice of blood I have spoken of, and 

 which, though doubtless an excellent one as between 

 pure Arabians and " kadishes," is hardly valid as 

 between the different strains of pure blood. An 

 inferior specimen of a favourite strain is probabl}' 

 preferred all over Arabia to a fine specimen of a 

 lower strain, or rather of a less fashionable one. 

 Thus the Bedouin's judgment of the individual 

 horse itself, when he does judge it, is rather a guess 

 at his pedigree than a consideration of his qualities. 

 In examininor a horse, the Bedouin looks first at his 

 head. There, if anywhere, the signs of his parentage 

 will be visible. Then, maybe, he looks at his colour 

 to see if he have any special marks for recognition, 

 and last of all at his shape. 



Of the speed of the animal, though nmcli is 

 talked of it, it is seldom that anything accurate 

 is known. The Bedouins have no set races by 

 which they can judge of this, and the relative 



