No. 216.] 769 



it approaches nearest to what we want. That admirable symmetry 

 of the Arab horse, is, however, in comparative miniature. How 

 many generations will it require to produce the requisite size? How 

 many generations? Why, three or four, five at the most. It is al- 

 most incredible with what rapidity the Arab horse, transplanted to 

 our climate, increases his stature and form. This phenomenon, how- 

 ever, is easily explained when we do not lose sight of the nature of 

 the soil of Arabia, its temperature, the kind of nourishment and 

 treatment to which the Arab horse is subjected from his birth. A 

 few sprigs of vegetables, dried under a devouring sun, little water, 

 and often none at all, and at rare intervals a handful of barley. Such 

 are the influences under which the growth of the young animal is 

 developed. That he should become sober, active and vigorous, may 

 be readily conceived, but it is equally clear, that under such regimen, 

 it is impossible for him ever to acquire very considerable dimensions, 

 above all if we take into consideration the bad treatment of which 

 he is the butt from his tenderest years. For we must say, however 

 painful it may be to destroy touching illusions, that the love of the 

 Arab for his horse, the carresses of which he is so profuse, the lodg- 

 ings which he shares with him, the tears which he plentifully sheds 

 when his horse dies, all these cut an admirable figure (beyond a 

 doubt) in our ballads, but, unfortunately, this happens to be one of 

 the thousand niaiseries^ (fooleries) to which it is high time justice 

 was done. Humbug is a word which we much need, the more the pity. 

 The Arab loves his horse. Yes, no doubt, for he is of immense utility 

 to him. He lodges his horse in his own house. There is a very 

 simple reason for that He has no stable, and he is afraid to leave 

 him out of doors for fear of his being either stolen or injured by wild 

 beasts. He weeps at his death in a lively manner. That too, is 

 very natural, for the horse is to him as personal property, an essen- 

 tial part. One easily comprehends why one does not smile at losing 

 an animal worth some thousand francs. There is no necessity for 

 that, for such kind of sensibility may be readily found w'ithout going 

 far. As for that tenderness of heart, that platonic love, which we 

 have been taught from our cradle, that is quite another affair. We 

 have seen how he is fed, nov/ let us see how he is treated. Mounted 

 at the age of eighteen months or two years, from that moment the 

 saddle never quits his back; his flanks are torn by stirrups which 

 Gui like knife blades, his mouth split by bits, the branches of which 

 are as long as your arm; thus the poor beast goes every day, under 

 iiis master, incredible distances. Does he happen to rest in camp 



{Ail Inst.] YY 



