His Early Histoiy. 109 



paratively recent date a native of Arabia ; others believe 

 him to have been originally located and domesticated 

 in Arabia. I may say at once I entertain the latter 

 opinion, and believe him to be the sole pure representa- 

 tive of the species. 



I will give a short sketch of his probable early history, 

 and then bring forward such matter as may bear upon the 

 subject, in proof and support. 



When the horse made his exit from the Ark with 

 the other animals saved alive from the Flood, B.C. 

 2349-48, I do not mean to insist he immediately made 

 his way into Central Arabia, and was found there 

 by those who first inhabited that country, although 

 such a supposition is very far from improbable. The 

 same law of nature that dictates to him and every 

 animal what is best for them — the fine instinct which 

 he has received from his Creator, and which enables him 

 to find his nearest way home, or if cast adrift at sea, at 

 once to turn his head to the nearest land, might as 

 easily 'have directed him to Arabia, the soil and climate 

 of which are peculiarly adapted to him and the reten- 

 tion of his primal characteristics. 



It may be supposed rather, that he would follow the 

 saved inhabitants of the world, or be taken by them 

 to the plains of Shinar ; and when, rather more than 

 a hundred years after the Flood — during which time 

 he would have increased and multiplied — the Tower of 

 Babel being in course of erection, the work was sud- 

 denly stopped by the confusion of tongues, and the 

 families of Noah dispersed to seek localities for them- 



