H O R 
they being the Dnly animals whole fpeed is com- | 
parable to that of this bird. The inftant the oftrich 
perceives itfelf aimed at, it makes for the moun- 
tains; while the horfcman purfues it with all pofli- 
ble expedition, and endeavours to cut off it's re- 
treat. This being effecied, the chace is continued 
along the plain; while the oftrich makes ufe both 
of it's legs and wings to accelerate it's progrds. 
However, the Horfe is frequently able to outrun 
it; and in that cafe the poor bird is obliged to have 
recourfe to art for eluding tile hunter, by making 
ufe of frequent gyrations: at laft, finding all it's 
efforts ineffe6lual, it hides it's head in the fand, or 
wherever it can, and patiently fuffers itfelf to be 
taken. If the Horfe, in a trial of this kind, fhews 
a fufficictit degree of fleetnefs and ftrength, his 
price becomes proportionably great; and fome that 
have acquitted themfelves with credit, liave been 
valued at a thoufand guineas. 
Ac prefent, however, the Horfes thus caught 
and trained are but few: the value of Arabian 
Horfes in every part of the world has thinned the 
defarts of the wild breed; and there are very few 
to be found in thofe countries, except fuch as are 
tame. Hiftorians inform us, that the Arabians 
firft began the management of Horfes in the time 
of Sheque Ifmael. Before that period, thefe ani- 
mals wandered wild along the face of the country, 
neglefted, and ufelefs; but the natives then firft 
tamed their fiercenefs, and improved their beauty: 
and at prefent they poffefs a race of the moft ele- 
gant Horfes in the world, with which they drive a 
confiderable trade, and furnifli the ftables of princes 
at immenfc prices. 
There is fcarce an Arabian, however poor in 
Other refpeds, who is not furniftied with his Horfe. 
In general, thefe people make ufe of mares in their 
ordinary excurfions; being taught by experience, 
that they endure hunger, thirft, and fatigue, bet- 
ter than Horfes: they are alfo lefs vicious, of a 
gentler nature, and more harmlefs among them- 
felves. The Turks, on the contrary, are not fond 
of mares ; and the Arabs fell them fuch Horfes as 
they do not think proper to keep for ftallions. 
The Arabians preferve the pedigrees of their 
Horfes with great care, and trace them for feveral 
ages. They know their alliances, and their entire 
genealogy. They diftinguifli the races by diffe- 
rent names, and divide them into three claffes : the 
firft is that of the nobles, or the ancient breed, un- 
adulterated on either fide; the fecond is that of the 
Horfes of the ancient race, but adulterated; and 
the third is that of the common and inferior kind. 
The laft are fold at a very moderate price; but 
thofe of the firft clafs, and even the fecond, ex- 
tremely dear. 
Taught by long experience, the Arabians know 
the race of a Horfe by his appearance; and can 
tell the name, furname, colour, and marks, pro- 
perly belonging to each. When a mare is co- 
vered, the owner receives a written atteftation of 
the faft: and when fhe has produced her foal, 
new witneffes are called ; and a new atteftation is 
figned, in which are defcribed the marks of the 
foal, and the day is entered when it was brought 
forth. Thefe teftimonies increafe the value of the 
Horfe, and are configned to the perfon who pur- 
chafes him. The moft ordinary mare of the noble 
breed fells for five hundred crowns ; many are va- 
lued at a thoufand; and fome of the very fineft 
kinds are eftimated at no lefs a fum than fifteen 
hundred pounds fterling. 
H O R 
The Arabians having no other habitation but a 
tent, that alfo ferves them for a ftable; fo that the 
hufband, the wife, the children, the mare, and 
the foal, live indifcriminately together: the little 
children frequently lie on the body, or on the neck, 
of the mare; whilftflie feems fond of their careffes, 
and never ofters to hurt them. The Arabians 
never beat their horfes, but treat them with great 
gentlenefs ; addrefs them as if rational beings; and 
never attempt to increafe their fpeed by the v/hip 
or fpur, except in cafes of neceflity : however, 
when either of thefe is applied, they fet off with 
amazing fleetnefs, leaping over every obftacle 
with as much agility as a buck; and ftiould their 
riders happen to be difmounted, they ftand ftill in 
the midft of their moft rapid career. 
The Arabian Horfes are of a middle fize, eafy in 
their m,otions, and rather inclined to leannefs than 
obefiry. They are regularly dreffed every morning 
and evening ; and with fo much care, that the 
fmalleft afperities or inequalities are not to be feen 
on their ilcins. During the day, they are kept 
from food, receiving only a little water; but about 
fun-fet, bags are fufpended from their heads, each 
containing nearly half a buftiel of clean barley : 
this they eat in the courfe of the night, and the 
bags are removed again in the morning. In the 
beginning of March, when the grafs is of a fuffi- 
cient height, they are turned outtopafturc; and 
about this time likewife the mares are configned 
to ftallions. "When the fpring is at an end, they 
are taken from pafture, and fubfifted the remain- 
der of the year on barley, except now and then a 
little ftraw. At the age of two years, or two and 
a half at moft, they areaccuftomed to the menage; 
and are then always kept ready faddled at the doors 
of the tents from morning till night, in order to 
be prepared againft any furprize. 
Senfible of the great advantages derived from 
their Horfes, the Arabians have a law which pro- 
hibits the exportation of their mares ; and thofe 
ftallions which are imported into England, are 
generally purchafed on the eaftern fhores of Afri- 
ca, and come round by the Cape of Good Hope. 
They are commonly about fourteen hands and a 
half high; their motions are more graceful than 
thofe of our Horfes; and they are alfo fuperior in 
fleetnefs; but their fpeed is irregular, and they 
are incapable of bearing long fatigue: neverthe- 
lefs, they are juftly confidered as the fineft breed 
in the world, and as that from which all others 
have derived their moft valuable qualifications. 
It is even probable that Horfes had their origin 
firft in Arabia; for there, inftead of croffing the 
breed, they are ftudious to preferve it entire. In 
other countries it is necellary to change the races, 
otherwife the Horfes would foon degenerate; but, 
in Arabia, the fame blood has paffed down through 
a long fucceffion, without any diminution either 
of beauty or ftrength. 
The Arabian breed has fpreadover all Barbary, 
and has even extended itfelf acrofs that vaft con- 
tinent to the wcftern (hores of Africa. It has alfo 
been diffufed into Egypt; and even into Perfia, 
where, according to Paulus Jovius, there are ftuds 
of ten thoufand v/hite mares all together, which 
are very fleet, and their hoofs fo hard, as not to ftand 
in need of ftioeing. In thefe countries, Horfes 
generally receive the fame treatment as in Arabia, 
except that they are littered in bags of their own 
dung, dried in the fun, and then pulverized. 
When this dung, whicli is fpread under the Horie 
abput 
