ANIMALS. 471 



they arc totally brought under subjection ; and even those which 

 are found in America are of a Spanish breed, which being sent 

 thither upon its first discover)'; have since become wild, and have 

 spread over all the south of that vast continent almost to the 

 straits of Magellan. These, in general, are a small breed, of 

 about fourteen hands high. They have thick jaws and clumsy 

 oints ; their ears and neck also are long ; they are easily tamed , 

 for the horse, by nature, is a gentle complying creature, and re- 

 sists rather from fear than obstinacy. They are caught by 

 a kind of noose, and then held fast by the legs, and tied to a tree, 

 where they are left for two days without food or drink. By that 

 time they begin to grow manageable ; and in some weeks they 

 become as tame as if they had never been in a state of wildness. 

 If, by any accident, they are once more set at liberty, they never 

 become wild again, but know their masters, and come to their 

 call. Some of the buccaniers have often been agreeably sur- 

 ])rised, after a long absence, to see their faithful horses once 

 more present themselves, with their usual assiduity ; and come 

 up, with fond submission to receive the rein. 



thousand camels, forty tliou?and fhoep, and twenty-four thousand ounces of 

 tiilvcr, there is no mention of horses bein^ part of the booty. We are in. 

 formed that the Arabians had but few horses, and those not at all valued ; so 

 that Arabia, where are now the most celebrated coursers in the world, is 

 rorapr.ratively of modern di:te as a breedins country. In the second century, 

 horses were exported from Eg'ypt to Arabia, as presents to various of their 

 kings ; and there can be little doubt that their finest horses were originally 

 the produce of Kffypt, whence they were also exported to Ethiopia, India, 

 Persia, Parthia, Armenia, Scythia, &c. ■'Solomon is said to have had " four 

 thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen." The 

 price of an Efjyptian horse in those days was one hundred and fifty shelfeU 

 of silver, which amounts to about .seventeen pounds two shillings sterling- ; a 

 very large sum at that remote period. 



I.pft only to conjecture, we can hut suppose,from a combination of circum. 

 stances, that Asia was the original country of the he rse ; for there he is iound 

 to the present day, roving in unrestrained freedom : and we are without any 

 historical record of his having been introduced by man into those extensive 

 wilds. One thing is quite certain, that he was not found either in America 

 or New Holland, at the oiigiiial discovery of these continents. The great 

 tracts of desert country around the Sea of Arel, and the Caspian Sea, have 

 been supposed to be the native residence of the horse ; but, if this conjecture 

 be correct, he must have widely extended his geographical range, for he ia 

 found in a wild state in Asia, as far iH)rth as the sixtieth degree, and to the 

 utmost southern extremes of that vast contiiinnt, and also in nuuiy parts 

 jf Africa ; but wo must suppose, that tlioto of the former country emigrated 

 ua the species multiplied. 



2 11 2 



