THE post. 



The feats of speed and endurance these intensely domesti- 

 cated animals will perform is wonderful. Fifty miles, without a 

 moment's halt, is by no means an uncommon journey for an 

 Arab horse of the true breed to perform ; indeed, Colonel 

 Smith relates, that a Mr. Frazer rode from Shiraz to 

 Teheran, a distance of five hundred and twenty-two miles, 

 remained three to rest, went back iu five days, remained nine 

 days at Shiraz, and returned again to Teheran in seven 

 days. 



According to the Desert code of morals, horse-stealing is 

 looked upon as an honourable proceeding, if the sufferer be a 

 stranger or a man of another tribe. To rob a hostile tribe is 

 considered a laudable achievement, and the thief is honoured 

 by his comrades according to the skiU and daring employed 

 during the pilfer, rather than to the amount of booty acquired. 

 One of the best stories of Arab horse-steaJing is as follows : — 



A Bedouin, named JabaJ, possessed a mare of great celebrity. 

 Hassad Pasha, then governor of Damascus, wished to buy the 

 animal, and repeatedly made the owner the most liberal offer, 

 which Tabal steadily refused. The pasha then had recourse to 

 threats, but with no better success. At length, one Gafer, a 

 Bedouin of another tribe, presented himself to the pasha, and 

 asked, what would he give to the man who should make him 

 master of Jabal's mare. " I will fill his horse's nosebag with 

 gold," replied Hassad. The result of this interview having 

 got wind, Jabal became more watchful than ever, and always 

 secured his mare at night with an iron chain, one end of which 

 was fastened round her hind fetlock, whilst the other, after 

 passing through the tent-cloth, was attached to the picket 

 driven into the ground under the felt that served himself and 

 his wife for a bed. But one midnight, Gafer crept into the 

 tent, and insinuating his body between Jabal and his wife, he 

 pressed gently, now against the one, and now against the other, 

 so that the sleepers made room for him right and left, neither 

 of them doubting that the pressure came from the other. This 

 being done, Gafer slit the felt with a sharp knife, drew out the 

 picket, loosed the mare, and sprang on her back. Just before 

 starting, he caught up Jabal's lance, and poking him with the 

 butt-end, cried out, "I am Gafer — I have stolen your noble mare. 

 I give you notice in time." This warning was in accordance 

 with the usual practice of the Desert on such occasions. Poor 

 Jabal, when he heard the words, rushed out of the tent and 

 gave the alarm, then mounting his brother's mare, and accom- 



