602 
VERTEBRATA. 
straight, or even a little concave ; the chest is narrow, and the balance is thrown with great 
equality upon both sets of extremities. But the narrow chest, by meaus of which the fore-legs 
are brought much closer to each other, though essential to a swift-running horse, does not adapt 
the animal for draught. In Arabia, and the other countries where the horse is so much esteemed, 
this is not considered a deficiency, because the animal is not there used for draught, goods being 
conveyed on the backs of camels. The skin of the Arab is very fine, the hair smooth, and the 
form of the muscles and the positions of the veins under the skin very conspicuous. The joints 
are particularly well made, and those processes of the bones to which the tendons are attached 
are very prominent, and the joints themselves are generally free from any defect. The limbs are 
particularly handsome, and have little or no hair on the fetlock. The common height at the 
shoulder is between thirteen and fourteen hands. The pace of these horses is rapid and graceful ; 
they do not perspire much ; they last a long time ; they can continue traveling at the rate of 
from fifty to sixty miles a day ; and five or six pounds of dourra^ or the barley of their native 
country, in the evening, is a sufficient feed for them. When at home in the tent they are fed 
with chopped barley-straw. 
The wind of these horses is particularly good, and they can be pushed at their full speed for a 
long distance without injury. They carry their heads, and also their tails, in a very graceful 
manner. They are divided into ignoble, and nohle- — the former being doomed to drudge, while 
the latter are used for the saddle, highly esteemed, and much attended to by their owners. They 
call the former by a name which means ivithout pedigree^^'' and the latter by another name, which 
signifies a pedigree which would be venerated anywhere — '■'■known for tivo thousand years^ The 
tradition is, that these horses are descended from the veritable stud of King Solomon, and have 
not been once crossed or corrupted in the blood since he sat upon the throne in Jerusalem. They 
are unquestionably noble animals, are held in great esteem, and often are of enormous price. We 
can understand that among a people so romantic and so poetical in their language as the Arabs the 
most wonderful storiesshould be told concerning them. " If," says the Arabian story, "you meet one 
of the faithful in the desert, mounted upon a Koclilani, and he shall say 'God bless you,' before 
you can say, 'And God's blessing upon you,' he shall be out of your horizon, for the whirlwind 
toils after him in vain." The same story, however, is told of the camel. 
The utmost attention is paid to the breeding of these horses, that they may not be tainted even 
by accident. The union always takes place in presence of a witness, who remains twenty days 
afterward to watch the female. The same witness is also present when the colt is cast, and a 
regular certificate is made out Avithin the first seven days. If these circumstances are not attended 
to, and the legitimacy cannot be established by the proper certificate, the marketable value of the 
horse is greatly diminished, whatever may be his real qualities. 
In Europe and America particular breeds are chiefly propagated through the male ; in Arabia 
it is considered that the female best transmits the qualities of a race, and hence the blood of the 
mare is most scrupulously guarded. 
The interesting qualities of the Arabian horse are attested by numerous writers. Bishop Heber, 
in his "Narrative," says: "My morning rides are very pleasant. My horse is a nice, quiet, good- 
tempered little Arab, who is so fearless that he goes without starting close to an elephant, and so 
gentle and docile that he eats bread out of my hand, and has almost as much attachment and as 
coaxing ways as a dog. This seems the general character of the Arab horses, to judge from what 
I have seen in this country. It is not the fiery, dashing animal I had supposed, but with more 
rationality about him, and more apparent confidence in his rider, than the majority of English 
horses." 
The kindness with which this animal is treated from a foal gives him an afi'ection for his 
master, a wish to please, a pride in exerting every energy in obedience to his commands, and, 
consequently, an apparent sagacity which is seldom seen in other breeds. The mare and her 
foal inhabit the same tent with the Bedouin and his children. The neck of the mare is often the 
pillow of the rider, and, more fi:'equently of the children, who are rolhng about upon her and the 
foal ; yet no accident ever occurs, and the animal acquires that friendship and love for man which 
occasional ill-treatment will not cause him for a moment to forget. 
