THE ARABIAN HORSE. 39 



Damascus, and connoisseurs assert that they are incomparable ; 

 thus, their value is arbitrary and always exceeds 2,000 piasters." 



This writer fails to make mention of " Kochlani," descended 

 from the stud of Mahomet, who laid the foundation of Ara- 

 bian pedigrees, but he undoubtedly used Seclaoni instead of 

 Kochlani in his description of the different families of this 

 breed. 



It is asserted by oriental travelers that pedigrees exist that 

 can be traced 500 years back and in the highest breeds there is 

 no doubt of that ; at present great care is taken and many 

 ceremonies are performed at the covering of the mare. After 

 the birth of the foal a certificate is always made out by the 

 local authority and this must be done within seven days of its 

 being dropped. 



The Arabian horse-breeder estimates the value of a horse 

 by its breeding, and is very particular in his choice of a stallion, 

 preferring to leave his mares unproductive rather than breed 

 them to a common horse, and often travels many miles to find 

 his ideal of a stallion; the owners of the best stallions, on 

 the other hand, being quite as particular regarding the quality 

 of the mare presented for service. 



It is said that the. Bedouins, when a. horse is born, never 

 allow it to drop to the ground, but receive and keep it for 

 several hours upon their arms, washing it, stretching and 

 strengthening its limbs, and hugging it like a baby. 



One of the most important of the earlier importations of 

 the Arabian to America was that of the Lindsey Arabian im- 

 ported to Connecticut about 1768. He has a remarkable 

 history, as follows : 



In about 1767, for some important service rendered by the 

 commander of a British frigate to a son of the Emperor of 

 Morocco, the emperor presented this horse (the most valuable 

 of his stud), to this captain, who shipped him on board the frigate 

 with the sanguine expectation of obtaining a great price for him 

 if safely landed in England ; but on the return voyage the frigate 

 called at one of the "West India Islands, where, being obliged to 



