470 THE HORSE. 



yet colour is looked to, as it may gratify the taste, discrimi- 

 nate certain races, or denote the care bestowed in selection 

 and breeding. 



Looking to the Horses of different countries, we find them 

 distinguished in every degree, by size, form, hardihood, the 

 power of speed, and other qualities. The Horses of Africa, 

 like the human inhabitants, present characters proper to 

 the region they inhabit. They are distinguished from the 

 Asiatic horses by their longer limbs, and by their smaller 

 girth at the loins. They more resemble the foal at the side 

 of its dam, than the more matured form of the Horse of 

 Western Asia. They are very fleet, and patient of thirst 

 and hunger. They have a high and graceful action, and 

 present much of that peculiar motion which every one will 

 understand who observes the movements of a foal, which, it 

 is to be observed, is an exceedingly fleet animal in propor- 

 tion to its strength and size. The race most characteristic 

 of the African form is found in Nubia and the adjoining de- 

 serts. The district of Dongola, lying about 20 of north 

 latitude, has been traversed by various travellers, and the 

 horses have been described. They are mostly of a black 

 colour, or black with white legs. They stand about sixteen 

 hands high, and, contrary to the form of the Asiatic horse, 

 their height is greater than their length from the neck back- 

 ward. They are described by travellers as forming the most 

 splendid cavalry in the world. Bruce, who was a skilful 

 horseman, speaks of them with admiration, and states that 

 they are docile and full of spirit. Bossman gives a similar 

 testimony, extolling their beauty, their symmetry, and their 

 docile and affectionate tempers. Some of them used to bring 

 enormous prices at Cairo. They have now become common 

 in that city, where they are to be seen ridden by persons 

 who prefer their high and showy action to the more useful 

 pace of the Arabian. It cannot but be regarded as remark- 

 able, that a race of such tall and powerful horses should be 

 produced in one of the most steril countries on the globe. 



