1 5 2 The A rabian Horse. 



CHAPTER III. 



The boundaries of the Arab people — Tlie Arabian horse and his habitat 

 further discussed — Arab horses in Africa ; but horses called Barbs not 

 generally of pure Arabian blood — Confusion existing as to the Arabian 

 horse, owing to the use of improper terms — Egypt and Turkey not the 

 habitat of the Arabian — Different terms explained — One breed of 

 Arabians — The several families discussed, and the tribes who jDossess 

 them — Apparent discrepancies in the accounts of travellers explained. 



'Who can tell Avhere the Arab dwelleth, or who has marked out the 

 boundaries of his people ? ' — IVarbtirtoii. 



From Diarbekr in the north, to Hadramaut in the 

 south, from the Euphrates and even the Tigris, to 

 the western coast of Africa, is Arabic spoken, more or 

 less ; and every part of this vast district is traversed 

 by the Arabs or their descendants.' But our present 

 business is with the Arabian horse and his habitat. Mr. 

 Layard mentions the horses of tlie Shammar tribe who 

 were frequently about him during his excavations at 

 Nineveh, and speaks with the greatest admiration of 

 some of their mares. Sofuk, then their sheikh, was 

 possessed of a mare of matchless beauty, and Kubleh, 

 her dam, was still more celebrated for her speed and 

 powers of endurance, and was known from the sources 

 of Khabour to the end of the Arabian promontory. 



' It must not be thought that Arabian horses arc common, or to be 

 found throughout this district, or wherever Arabic may be spoken. 



