CHAP. I. 
ARABS. 
47 
foals for sale. I have seen some of them brought in this way, 
which, when taken care of, became remarkably handsome, and 
unlike the generahty belonging to the Bedouins. In the bazaars 
at TripoH I have sometimes observed very fine ones, which were 
brought from the Desert, and sold for forty or fifty dollars (about 
eleven or twelve pounds sterhng) a piece. All have long tails, and 
are entire ; a great defect is, however, almost general amongst 
them, in consequence of their being mounted when too young ; 
which is, that their backs are very hollow, and their hind quarters 
appear higher than their fore. Colts of twelve months are fre- 
quently seen, staggering beneath the weight of a heavy man, liis 
arms, water skin, and food. The Arabs consider a large belly 
as very handsome ; and some horses, from the nature of their food, 
acquire such rotundity in this respect, that they appear like mares 
in foal. 
A hght mane and tail on a chesnut horse is considered unlucky ; 
the colour, though common, is not much admired, and the feet of 
such animals are accounted soft and tender. Bay is the favourite 
colour next to light grey, which is much in request, the Bashaw 
generally riding horses of this description. 
Much importance is attached to the manner in which the legs 
are coloured, stockinged horses being in the extremes of good or 
bad luck, according to the disposition of the white. If both fore- 
legs are marked, it is good ; if one hind and one fore leg are marked 
on the same side, it is very unlucky ; or if ona alone is white, it is 
equally unfortunate ; but if opposite legs (off fore and near hind) 
are light, nothing can be more admired. Ridiculous as these 
fancies may appear, they nevertheless influence the price of horses, 
sometimes to even a sixth of their value. 
In sandy parts of the desert shoeing is never used ; but where 
the animals are to pass over mountains, it is absolutely necessary. 
