130 The Arabian Horse. 



Egypt ; which is not at all an improbable means of the 

 horse being taken into Egypt. If the Ishmaelites, in 

 any of the predatory raids, captured horses, they might 

 be glad of such a ready market for them as Egypt. I 

 don't want to insist upon this view, but the Midianite 

 merchants evidently were in the habit of trading with 

 Egypt before the horse is first mentioned. Whether 

 the horse was taken from Arabia into Egypt or originally 

 taken there by Mizraim, it is a country in which the 

 horse would degenerate, and become of larger and 

 heavier build ; thus more adapted for harness and chariot 

 work, and another reason why King Solomon should 

 obtain horses from Egypt besides the easy access and 

 his peculiar affinity for that country. The Hebrews 

 had two different words for the horse, one to denote 

 the chariot, the other the riding horse; the former 

 horse was much heavier and larsfer. 



APPENDIX TO THE FIRST CHAPTER. 



The causes of degeneracy ainong horses in otlier countries than Arabia — 

 The external clianges which would ensue — The Arabian still a distinct 

 breed — Additional reason why Arabia was the habitat of the horse. 



Whether it be supposed or admitted that there were 

 other breeds, or, rather, that the horse was domesticated 

 by several families of mankind about the same time, or 

 whether the horse immediately found his way into 

 Arabia after the Flood, and from thence the race was 

 distributed over the earth, it may be well to show causes 

 that may have produced degeneracy. 



The following appear to be some of the most pro- 

 bable : — 



