THE PONT. 



The mad career of a troop of wild horses, impelled by thirst, 

 fire, or some other cause of panic, is called a stampedo. While 

 in Korth America, Mr. Murray witnessed one, and thus describes 

 it : " About an hour after the usual time for securing the horses 

 for the night an indistinct sound arose like the muttering of 

 distant thunder; as it approached it became mixed with the 

 howling of all the dogs in the encampment, and with the 

 shouts and yells of the Indians ; in coming nearer it rose high 

 above all these accompaniments and resembled the lashing of a 

 heavy surge upon the beach. Oil and on it rolled towards us, and 

 partly from my own hearing, partly from the hurried words and 

 actions of the tenants of our lodge, I gathered it must be the fierce 

 and uncontrollable gallop of thousands of panic-stricken horses. 

 As this living torrent drew near I sprang to the front of the 

 tent, seized my favourite riding maxe, and, in addition to the 

 hobbles which confined her, twisted the long Icuriett round her 

 fore-legs ; then led her immediately in front of the fire, hoping 

 that the excited and maddened flood of horses would divide and 

 pass on each side of it. As the galloping mass drew near our 

 horses began to snort, prick up their ears, and then to tremble ; 

 and when it burst upon us they became completely ungovern- 

 able with terror. All broke loose and joined their affiighted 

 companions except my mare, which struggled with the fury of 

 a wild beast, and I only retained her by using all my strength 

 and at last throwing her on her side. On went the troops 

 trampling in their headlong speed over skins, dried meals, &c., 

 and overthrowing the tents. They were soon lost in the dark- 

 ness of the night and in the wilds of the prairie, and nothing 

 more was heard of them save the distant yelping of the curs 

 who continued their ineffectual pursuit. 



In no country in the world, however, is the horse so highly 

 prized as in Arabia. There at least it is a " home pet," in the 

 fnllest sense of the term. Aa a foal it roams in and about 

 the tent, eating with the children, playing with them till the 

 playfellows are tired, and all lie down together, he with the 

 four legs serving as a pfllow for the rest. He is christened, 

 and should he stray a quarter of a mile from home, hears his 

 name, and answers with a neigh should one of the youngsters 

 bawl for him from the tent-door. He is regarded as a child 

 by his master, and is never called on to do an hour's work 

 till the anniversary of his second birth-day. Once broke to 

 the saddle, however, it is seldbila off its back. " Summer and win- 

 ter it spends the hours of daylight in the open air eithei joumey- 



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