ORIENTAL. 
around, the life remains the same as in 
bygone ages. There has been no need to 
alter the standard to suit the varying 
fashions in sport. It is the fact that these 
beautiful dogs of to-day are the same as 
those of thousands of years ago which adds 
such a special importance to the breed. 
The Slughi (Tazi) is to be found in Arabia 
(including the Hedjaz), Syria, Mesopotamia, 
Valleys of the Euphrates 
and Tigris, Kurdistan, 
GREYHOUNDS. 
475 
fore constantly importing fresh stock from 
the south. In some districts in Persia, how- 
ever, the smooth-coated variety predominates. 
As with his famous horses and camels, 
the Bedawi attaches much importance to 
the pedigree of his Slughi. Though different 
types are found in the same localities, 
natives are very careful not to mix the 
breeds. Some families of the Gazelle Hound 
Persia, Turkestan, Sinai 
Peninsula, Egypt, the 
Nile Valley, Abyssinia, 
and Northern Africa. 
By examining the extent 
and position of the 
deserts inhabited by the 
great nomadic Arab 
tribes connected by 
pilgrim ways and cara- 
van routes, the distri- 
bution of the Gazelle 
Hound can easily be 
followed. 
The different types of 
the Slughi are known 
by the distinctive names 
of the Shami, Yamani, 
Omani, and Nejdi. The 
Shami has silky hair on 
its ears, and long feathery 
hair on its tail. The 
Yemen and Oman breeds 
have not much feathering on ears or tail. 
The Nejdi has shorter hair than any of the 
above varieties. Native experts can tell them 
apart. In some districts the smooth and in 
others the feathered varieties predominate. 
The feathered type of Slughi having been 
kept throughout Persia from the earliest 
times by the sporting Khans, has led Euro- 
peans to apply the name “ Persian’? Grey- 
hound to this variety, and thence also to 
infer that it came from Persia southwards, 
though the word ‘“Tazi” (Arabian) and 
the distinctive name ‘‘Shami’” (Syrian) 
denote the contrary. It is also stated that 
after two or three generations in Persia 
Greyhounds become much bigger and heavier 
and have longer hair; sportsmen are there- 
A TYPICAL SLUGHI (SHAM). 
BRED IN ENGLAND BY THE HON. FLORENCE AMHERST. 
Photograph by T. Fall. 
are especially renowned. A celebrated dog 
was looted as a puppy from south of Mecca. 
His descendants are now famous among 
the tribes on the north of the Persian Gulf. 
The Slughi or “hound”? is highly valued, 
and not treated like the despised ‘‘ dog ” or 
“kelb” of the East. The Arab speaks 
of him as ‘“‘el hor” the ‘‘ noble,” and he is 
held to be as the “ Gre”? hound was of old 
in England, ‘“‘ the dogge of high degree,” as 
referred to by Caius. He has the thoughtful 
care of his master, and, unlike the other 
dogs which are kept outside the encamp- 
ment, is allowed to stretch himself at ease 
on the carpet of his master’s tent. The 
children play with him, and he is decorated 
with shells, beads, and talismans. On the 
