262 Bedouin Tribes of the Etiphrates. [en. xxvm. 



of his third year he is taken on expeditions, not 

 perhaps serious ghaziis, where he would run some 

 risk of breaking down or being captured, but on 

 minor journeys ; and he is taught to gallop in the 

 fiixure of eiixht, and chano;e his lesrs so as to otow 

 supple. This treatment is indeed a kill or cure 

 one ; and, if the colt gets through it, there is 

 little fear of his breaking down afterwards. It 

 is seldom that one sees a three-year old without 

 splints, though curbs and spavins are not common. 

 I have seen several animals with the shauk bone 

 permanently bent, through hard work when very 

 young. I agree, however, with the Bedouins, in 

 believing that to their general health and powers of 

 endurance this early training is necessary. The 

 fillies go through the same course of treatment, and 

 themselves become mothers before they are four 

 years old. The colts are sold off when opportunity 

 offers to the townsmen of Deyr, Aleppo or Mosul, 

 as the case may be, or to dealers who come round 

 to the tents of the tribes, during their summer stay 

 in the extreme north. The best are usually taken 

 by the townsmen, as the dealers, especially those 

 who supply the Indian market, seldom or never 

 purchase hadud colts. These cost about three 

 times as much as the others, and it is easy to forge 

 a pedigree. The townsmen, particularly those of 

 Deyr, who are almost Bedouins themselves, know 

 tlie difference well, and care for nothing but the 

 l)est. Others are sold to the low tribes, who take 



