ARAB HORSES. 419 



the Kadischi, or mixed breed, and the Kochlani, or pure breed. Till the 

 last century, the pedigrees of these horses used to be traced to the five 

 which bore Mohammed and his companions on the flight to Medina ; at 

 present, no Arab chief is happy unless he can trace the descent of his 

 favorite steed from one of the stud of King Solomon. The Bedouins 

 themselves, however, never make use of any written pedigree, and, 

 according to Abd-el-Kader, the Arabs of Algiers care nothing for written 

 registers, the genealogy of the blood-horses being as well known as that 

 of their masters. The province of Nedjed adjoining the Syrian desert is 

 said to produce the noblest horses of the present day, the pasture there 

 is rich and succulent, and unrivaled for its nutritious and aromatic 

 properties, and it is a mistake to suppose that the Arabian is reared in 

 an arid desert, and owes his powers of endurance to early hardships. 

 Another error is to suppose that horses are numerous in Arabia ; 

 Burckhardt estimates the total number at fifty thousand. Still fewer, 

 comparatively, are those of perfect quality and beauty, probably not two 

 hundred in the whole desert. A true Arab of Arabia never mounts a 

 stallion, and never parts with his mare. 



The owner of a mare bestows great pains in seeking out for her a 

 mate of unblemished descent. The mare and foal live in the tent with 

 the Bedouin and his children, who roll about with her and her foal ; no 

 accident ever occurs, and the animal becomes a loving friend. At the 

 end of a month the foal is weaned, and is fed for three months on camel's 

 milk ; then a little wheat is allowed for another three months ; at the 

 expiration of this time, the young animal is allowed to graze near the 

 tent, and some barley is given it. The kindness with which the Arab is 

 treated from her very birth gives her an affection for her master, a wish 

 to please, a pride in exerting every energy, and an apparent sagacity, 

 which is seldom seen in other breeds. 



When the rider falis from his mare, and is unable to rise, she will 

 immediately stand still, and neigh until assistance arrives. If he lies down 

 to sleep, as fatigue sometimes compels him, in the midst of the desert, 

 she stands watchful over him, and neighs and rouses him if either man 

 or beast approaches. The Arab horses are taught to rest occasionally 

 in a standing position ; and a great many of them never lie down. 



The Arab loves his horse as truly and as much as the horse loves 

 him ; and no little portion of his leisure time is often spent in talking to 

 and caressing his faithful steed. 



