FAMOUS ARABIAN HORSES. 4 1 



successor. One cannot sell his share without permis- 

 sion from the rest, be he ever so much in need; and 

 it must be a most unusual circumstance which could 

 gain such permission." 



Is there not some strange legend concerning Ara- 

 bian horses, Count? 



" Yes, and it is said to be a true one. The legend 

 is this: During the reign of Mohammed he sent his 

 grand vizier with his army in the hope of conquer- 

 ing China. For five years they travelled over moun- 

 tain and valley, through forest and desert, climbing 

 rocky precipices to descend on the other side into 

 the rivers and streams. Unparalleled hardships 

 befell them on their long journey thither and were 

 not lightened on their return, inasmuch as every 

 horse died on the road except five beautiful mares. 

 From these and the Dzigguetai (pronounced Gigati) 

 are descended the five rare breeds so closely guarded 

 by the Arab tribes." 



What are the Dzigguetai? 



" They are the wild Arabian stallions of the desert, 

 outmatching and outwitting the wary and cunning 

 Arab in his various devices to approach them, never 

 letting them get nearer than half a mile. After ex- 

 hausting every other artifice, the Arabs have lain 

 concealed in the desert by being buried in the sand 

 for days and nights, in their fruitless efforts to 

 secure them. But these untamed and untamable 

 creatures, with their intelligent instinct, ever scented 

 danger from afar, and kept their half-mile distance 

 between themselves and their would-be captors. 

 Their strength and endurance are greater than that 



