CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 10. SOLIDUNGULA. 605 



The Barb is an animal of the Arab stock, bred by the Moors, in Barbary, whence its name. It 

 was this variety, no doubt, that was introduced into Spain by the Moors. Some authors have 

 been disposed to trace this animal to a remote African lineage, an indigenous animal of the 

 deserts, used by the nomadic Moors and Arabs as far back as the time of Hannibal, and supply- 

 ing the ranks of the Numiclian cavalry in his service. We need but say that while there is no 

 historical authority for this, we have direct testimony to the fact that the Moorish or Barbary 

 horses which were taken to Spain were of Arabian descent. In general, the Barb is considered 

 as possessing the high qualities of his race in a degree scarcely inferior to the Arabian. It is not 

 handsome, its head being large, its neck short and thick, the body and legs long and slender; 

 yet its speed, bottom, abstinence, patience, and perseverance are unrivaled. 



The horse is a common animal in the Barbary States, and indeed throughout many parts of 

 Africa, especially among the Arabian portion of the population. It is almost exclusively used for 

 the saddle, the camel being employed for the transportation of merchandise, and the ass for carry- 

 ing burdens in the common affairs of the house and farm. Some of the negro princes of Africa 

 have horses, and often of fine breeds. Major Denham found the little State of Begharmi, in Cen- 

 tral Africa, to possess a body of well-mounted cavalry, and both men and horses covered with 

 linked iron mail ! There are also, as we are told, wild horses in Africa, and some authors, as we 

 have elsewhere stated, regard this as the original home of the horse. History, it is true, informs 

 us that Egypt was possessed of well-trained horses about the time of Joseph, but not in the time 

 of Abraham, two centuries before. If the horse was a native of the contiguous deserts, how did 

 it happen that for many centuries after Egypt had reached a high pitch of civilization the horse 

 had not been brought into use? And beside, many circumstances already noticed point to the 

 Scythians as the first horsemen, and Scythia as the birth-place of the horse. 



The Persian Horse is evidently a cross with the Arabian, but in which way or with what breed 

 is unknown. According to our ideas, its head is handsomer than that of the Arab, and it is a 

 more weighty animal, but it wants the spirit and continuity of exertion which are so characteristic 

 of the other. For short distances these horses are nearlv, if not altogether, as fleet as Arabians, 

 but they have not equal wind. The Persians, however, pay great attention to purity of blood in 

 their best horses, and in former times the horses of England were much improved by the intro- 

 duction of some stallions from Persia. The racer bred by crossing with these was once greatly 

 celebrated for its swiftness on the turf, though, since the pure Arabian blood has been introduced, 

 the race-horse is vastly superior to what it was. 



The Turkish Horse is a fine animal, and resembles the Arabian ; it is used almost exclusively 

 for the saddle. 



The Tartar Horse is spread over the present Independent Tartary and the adjacent countries, 

 extending through a space of nearly ninety degrees of longitude, that is, from Mantchooria to the 

 Ukraine ; it presents considerable variety, according to the climate ; yet, with singular persistency 



nose ; by the dilatation of the nostrils ; by the dryness of the flesh which enwraps the veins of the head ; by the ele- 

 gance of its shape ; by the softness of the mane, of the extremities, and of the skin ; by the width of breast, the thick- 

 ness of the articulations, and dryness of the extremities. According to the traditions of our predecessors, they are, 

 also to be recognized by moral indications much more than by external signs. By these you can prejudge the race ; 

 by the moral indications you can arrive at a knowledge of the care which had been observed in the matches (breed- 

 ing), of the interest with which crossing had been avoided. 



" The horses of race do not know effeminacy. The horse is the most beautiful of animals, and its moral, in our 

 idea, ought to correspond, not degenerate, to its physical character. The Arabs have such a conviction of this, that 

 if ahorse or a mare gives any incontestable proof of extraordinary quickness, of notable abstinence, of rare intelli- 

 gence, or affection for the hand that gives it its food, they will make every possible sacrifice to draw a race from it — 

 being persuaded that the qualities which distinguish it will be manifested in its breed. 



"We believe, then, that a horse is truly noble when to a beautiful conformation it unites valor and fierceness, and 

 when it evinces pride in the smoke of powder and the combat. % 



"This horse will esteem its master, and will scarcely ever permit any one to mount it except him. It will not uri- 

 nate while it is traveling. It will not eat the leavings of any other horse. It will not disturb the clearness of the 

 water with its front legs when it passes over it. By its hearing, by its sight, and by its smell, it will know how to 

 preserve its master from the thousand accidents which often take place in the chase and in war. And in short, shar- 

 ing the sensations of sorrow and of pleasure of its rider, it will aid him in the fight, struggling with him in all parts, 

 and will always make common cause with him." 



