Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-01-26
AGRICULTURAL.

gssa@
y ARABIAN HORSE.
Our readers are all probably aware that a
\ work is new in the course of publication
~ England, called " The Library of Use
ful Knowledge" It is issued in monthly
numbers, under the direction of the Socie-
ty for the Diffusion of Useful knowledge,
headed by Mr.. Brougham, and composed
OF some of the first men in the British
Nation. This work circuates considera-
bly, in this country, but of course in lin
tied degree. From desire to make our
paper more valuable, as well as to do all
we can to aid in the diffusion of useful
knowledge, ave propose occasionally to en-
rich our columns with extracts from this
work.
The last number of the Library of Useful
knowledge received in this country is en-
titled The Farmers Series, No. L. This
series, it is announced, will consist of trea-
tlses upon subjects most interesting to
persons employed in the various branches
OF agriculture, and to those generally, who
reside in the country. "It naturally be-
gins with considering animals, which con-
stitute the most valuable part of the farm
er's property-their origin-their differ
ent breeds-their structure-the most
economical, and profitable, and humane
method of treating them-and the art of
rendering their services more extensive
and permanent, and their health and CON-
fort more secure" In pursuance of this
plan the work goes on to consider the
Horse, which stands at the head of those
animals which have been domesticated by,
or rendered useful to, man-whether we
regard his noble form, his great sagacity,
or the manner in which he is eenaneteJ
with oaF profit and pleasure. The fret
chapter, which we proceed to copy, gives a
GENERAL HISTORY OF THE HORSE.
The native country of the horse cannot
with certainty be traced. lie has been
found, varying materially in size, in form,
and in utility, in all the temperate. in
most of the sultry, and in many of the
northern regions of the Old World.
In the Sacred Volume. which, beside
its higher claims to stand at the head of
the Farmers Library, contains the oldest
authentic record of past transactions, we
are told that, SO early as 1850 years be-
fore the birth of Christ, the horse had
been domesticated by the Egyptians,
When Joseph carried his fathers remains
from Egypt to Canaan, "there went up
with him both chariots and horsemen. :"
One hundred and fifty years afterwards,
the horse constituted the principal strength
of the Egyptian army. Pharaoh pursued
the Israelites with six hundred chosen
chariots, and with all the chariots of
Egypt"
If we could believe the accounts of the
uninspired historians. Sesostris 1.-THE mon
arch probably whom Joseph served) had
twenty-seven thousand chariots of war
and Semiramis, the founder of Babylon.
had one hundred thousand chariots, and
million of horsemen but this was
probably a great exaggeration.
Fifty Years after the expulsion of the
Israelites from Egypt. and 1850 years be-
fore the birth of Christ, the horse was so
far naturalized in Greece, that the Olymp-
ick games we're instituted, including chart
OF and horse races. We have, therefore,
sufficient evidence that the horse was. at
a very early period, subjected to the do
minion Of man, and unfortunately, for the
worst of purposes, the business Of war.
From the records of the Old Testament
we are likewise enabled to ascertain the
precise period of time, when in Egypt and
Canaan, and the neighbouring countries,
this animal began to be domesticaled.
1920 years before the birth of Christ,
when Abraham, having left Haran, in ODE
dience to the divine command, was driven
into Egypt by the famine which ragged in
Canaan, Pharaoh offered him sheep and
oxen, and asses, and camels. Horses
would doubtless have been added, had
they existed, or had they been subdued in
Egypt.
When, fifty years afterwards, Abraham
to Mount Moriah, to offer up
his only son, he rode upon an ass, which,
with all his wealth and power, he would
scarcely have done, had the horse been
known.
Thirty years later, when Jacob return
ed to Isaac with Rachel and Leah, an ac-
count is given of the number of oxen,
sheep, camels, goats, and asses, which he
sent to appease' the anger of Esau, but
not one horse is mentioned.
1t is not until twenty-four years after
this, when the famine devastated Canaan,
aud Jacob sent into Egypt to buy corn,
that horses are first heard Of. Wagons"