ARAB AND BARB HORSES 23 



seps's trials than has been recorded. That the 

 Barbs have had as great influence in the creation 

 of other types as the Nejdees is undoubtedly true, 

 for while it has never been easy to get the best 

 specimens of Barbary horses for exportation, it 

 has never been so difficult as to get Nejdee Ara- 

 bians of equivalent excellence. The Berbers were 

 natives of Palestine and expelled by one of the 

 Persian kings. They emigrated to Egypt, but 

 were refused permission to settle, so they crossed 

 over to the other side of the Nile. They were ad- 

 venturesome robbers, as they are to-day^ and no 

 doubt have taken their horses with them from 

 their first setting out from Palestine. So I quote 

 Abd-El-Kader again: "As for the Berbers them- 

 selves, everything proves that they have been 

 known from time immemorial, and that they 

 came from the East to settle in the Maghreb, 

 where we find them at the present day." 



Europe did not know much of these Arab and 

 Barb horses until the Arabs and Moors invaded 

 and conquered Spain. The invasion of Spain be- 

 gan in the eighth century and the rule lasted until 

 into the thirteenth century, though the Moors 



