364 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



perpetuation of these qualities, by the most scrupulous regard 

 for the purity of blood. This is equally^true of the Barb or 

 pure-bred horse of Morocco, and those of the northern coast 

 of Africa, in Kgypt, among the Turks, and indeed wherever 

 the followers of the Prophet are to be found. It is unques- 

 tionable that the influence of the eastern blood among the 

 choicest animals of modern Europe, has been followed by 

 great improvements in racing stock. Yet it is equally 

 certain, that the race horse, both of England and the United 

 States, has accomplished what has never been demonstrated 

 as within the ability of their progenitors; and on repeated 

 trials with the eastern horses, he has shown himself confess- 

 edly their superior in speed, strength and endurance. In 1825, 

 two English horses ran against the two fleetest Cossacks 

 which could be found throughout the entire region of their 

 best blood, and in a continued race of 47 miles, the Euro- 

 pean took the stakes, Sharper, the most successful, perform- 

 ing the distance in 2 hours and 48 minutes. About the 

 same time, Recruit, an English horse of moderate reputa- 

 tion, easily beat Pyramus, the best Arabian on the Bengal 

 side of India. The Leeds, the Darley and the Godolphin 

 Arabian; the Lister and D'Arcey's White Turk, and other 

 noted eastern horses, would not compare in performance with 

 many of their descendants. But these, with some other 

 choice Arabians, on the best mares, and with every advan- 

 tage for obtaining celebrity, have succeeded in establishing 

 a fame as just as it has been enduring. Yet it must at the 

 same time be remembered, that of the innumerable other pure- 

 bred horses which have been tried in Europe, a few only 

 have rescued their names from oblivion. 



The experience of eastern blood in this country, in com- 

 parison with the best English, is decidedly in favor of the lat- 

 ter. We have had one horse of unsurpassed excellence, which 

 a fortunate accident threw upon our shores a short time pre- 

 vious to 1770. This was the white Barb Ranger, which was 

 presented by the Emperor of Morocco as the choice of his 

 stud, to an English naval officer for some distinguished 

 service. On his route homeward, the animal was set on 

 shore for exercise at an intermediate port, where in his gam- 

 bols he broke three of his legs, and thinking him worthless, 

 bis owner gave him to the commander of a New England 

 merchantman, then present. He was readily accepted, and 

 placed in slings on board of his vessel, and recovered. 

 This animal stood for many years in the eastern part of 



