44 BRITISH QUADRUPEDS. 



Nor is strong attachment to this faithful animal 

 confined to the Arab. Our own countryman, the 

 enterprising traveller, Major Denham, thus refers to the 

 death of his favourite horse, in one of the most desert 

 spots of Central Africa. " There are a few situations in 

 a man's life, in which losses of this nature are felt most 

 keenly, and this was one of them. It was not grief, 

 but it was something nearly approaching to it ; and 

 though I felt ashamed of the degree of derangement I 

 suffered from it, yet it was several days before I could 

 get over the loss. Let it, however, be remembered, 

 that the poor animal had been my support and my 

 comfort ; nay, I may say, companion, through many a 

 dreary day and night ; had endured both hunger and 

 thirst in my service ; and was so docile, that he would 

 stand still for hours in the desert, while I slept between 

 his legs, his body affording me the only shelter that 

 could be obtained from the powerful influence of a 

 noon-day sun : he was the fleetest of the fleet, and ever 

 foremost in the chase." 



Julius Caesar mentions these' animals, in his account 

 of the invasion of our native isle. Many war-chariots, 

 drawn by horses, were used in the army of the ancient 

 Britons. Scythes fastened to the end of the axle-trees, 

 swept down every thing before them, and spread 



