IMPROVEMENT OF HORSES. 155 
body was removed to Canaan, “there went up with him both 
chariots and horsemen.” 
Profane history informs us that Sessotris, who was a king of 
Egypt, and probably the reigning monarch when Joseph flour¬ 
ished, had “twenty-seven thousand chariots of war.” 
So far as we have information, therefore, the horse was first 
subdued in the North of Africa, and thence introduced into the 
civilized parts of the world—for it must not be forgotten that 
Egypt was at that time the most enlightened nation of the earth, 
giving laws, art, science and religion to all the rest. And since 
the history which furnishes the data above-mentioned, in speak¬ 
ing of other animals, and in referring to those labors which are 
now generally performed by horses, makes no mention of them 
whatever, until about 1920, B. C., we are justified in conclud¬ 
ing that up to that time they had not come into use. 
Again, it is rather natural that the weaker and less spirited 
animals should have been subjected first, and that the horse, a 
large, fleet and powerful animal, should have been tried at a 
later period. But from this time forth their value began to be 
appreciated, and that paragon of ugliness, the ass, was rapidly 
superseded, in all those countries with which Egypt had com¬ 
merce. Greece obtained them through the Thessalians, once 
the most famous horsemen of the world, who were originally 
colonists from Egypt, and took their horses with them. It was 
from Egypt that Solomon obtained all his horses of war, pay¬ 
ing at the rate of 150 shekels, or about $80 per head. 
It would appear, therefore, that Arabia was not the original 
habitat of the horse, as has been maintained by many writers. 
And this opinion is still further confirmed by the facts, that in 
all the records of battles among the Arabs, in early times, no 
mention is made of the horse, either as having been used, or as 
being included in the spoils with other domestic animals, and 
that, as late as the second century of the present era, horses 
were considered the most acceptable present that could be made 
to princes of Arabia; who, after they were once made acquaint¬ 
ed with their qualities, by dint of unexampled care and skill in 
