THE ARABIAN HORSE. 



amulets formed of fentences from the Koran, as a prefervative againft evil 

 eyes (a), and other accidents; in Ihort, they treat them almofl like rational 

 beings, which are ready to facrifice their lives for their mailer's benefit. 

 Some of the Arabians are even lb enthuilaftic as to fay, that the breed of 

 Horfes which they polTefs is defcended from the Hud of Solomon, where it 

 had been miraculouily brought to perfection, and that it has been preferved 

 pure and unmixed ever lince. The following liory is quoted by De Saint 

 Pierre (b), as related by the French Conful d'Hervieux^ in his journey to 

 Mount Lebanon, and is a linking iniiance of the ilrong attachment an 

 Arabian feels to his Horfe. " The whole Hock of a poor Arabian of the 

 Defert conlifted of a moll beautiful Mare. The French Conful at Said 

 offered to purchafe her, with an intention to fend her to his mailer, 

 Louis XIV. The Arab, prefTed by want, helitated a long time ; but, at 

 length, confented, on condition of receiving a very considerable fum, which 

 he named. The Conful not daring, without inlirucTiions, to give fo high a 

 price., wrote to Verfailles for permiHion to clofe the bargain on the terms 

 Hipulated. Louis XIV. gave orders to pay the money. The Conful 

 immediately fent notice to the Arab, who foon after made his appearance, 

 mounted on his magnificent courfer, and the gold he had demanded was paid 

 down to him. The Arab, covered with a miferable rag, difmounts, and 

 looks at the money ; then turning his eyes to the Mare, he lighs, and thus 

 accolis her : ( To whom am I going to yield thee up ? To Europeans, who 

 will tie thee clofe, who will beat thee, who will render thee miferable : 

 return with me, my beauty, my darling, my jewel ! and rejoice the hearts 

 of my children !' As he pronounced thefe words, he iprung upon her back, 

 and fcampered off towards the Defert." 



(a-) The Arabs -dread what. they -call the eye of envy : a well-bred perfon, therefore, never expreffes any 

 indifcreet furprize at the fight of a beautiful Child, or a fine Horfe, as the fimple Arab would not fail of 

 attributing to it every accident which might befal them in the courfe of a year. Cuflom and politenefs 

 only require, that he fhould exprefs himfelf thus ; " God is good, and powerful ; this Child or this Horfe 

 (hall proiper." — D'Obfon^ville. 



(b) Studies of Nature, by % H. B. de Saint Pierre, tranflated.by Dr. H. Hunter. 



