190 SPORTING AND . 



the ground, and his paces were so light 

 and springy that it was a real pleasure to 

 ride him ; though very quiet and gentle, 

 like all Arabs, he was full of life and spirit, 

 and I do not remember ever enjoying a 

 ride of ten miles so much. After we had 

 a good gallop across the plain, we came 

 to a pretty little hedge about four feet 

 high, at which I put him, and, to my 

 astonishment, he cleared it like an old 

 hunter ; generally, the Arab horse is not 

 given to jumping, as, in his own country, 

 there are no fences of any description, so 

 he must of course be taught to jump, as it 

 does not come naturally to him. 



When I resigned the horse at the end 

 of the march to the care of the sats, he 

 was greatly pleased to hear how much I 

 liked my new acquisition ; I praised the 

 care he had bestowed on his charge, and, 



