The Shasta courier., 1853-08-06
The Arab Horse.

LAYARD, the explorer of Ninevah, who is as
familiar with Arabs he is with antiquities,
gives, in his late work on Assyria, some curious
dets lis respecting the true horse of the desert
Contrary 10 the popular potion. the real Arabian
is celebrated less for extraordinary swiiiness.
than for extraordinary powers OF endurance.
It. usual PAGES are but two-a quick walk, fen
averaging four or FIVE miles an hour and a half
running canter for only when pursued does u
Beionn put his mare to full speed. 1t is the
distance they will travel in emergency, tie
wei hit they viii carry, and the comparative tri-
ie of food they require, which render the Ara
bian horses valuable.
Layard says that he knew of celebrated
mare which had carried two men in chain ar
NOR beyond the reach of some Aneyza pnrsuers
This mare had rarely more than twelve hand
fuls of barley in twenty-four hours, excepting
during the spring, when the pastures were
green; and it is only the mares OF the wealthy
bedouins that get even tins allowance. The
consequence is that, except in the spring the
Arab horse is lean and unsighty They are
never placed under cover during summer nor
protected from the biting winds of the desert
during winter The saddle is rarely TAX en- from
their backs. Cleaning and grooming are stran-
gers 10 them. They sometimes reach fifteen
hands in height, and never fall below fourteen
In disposition they docie as lambs, requi-
ring no guide but halter; yet in fright or pur-
glitter with fire. the neck is arche,l, and The
nane AMI tail are raised and spread out 10 The
winl the whole animal becomes transformed.
The vast plains OF Mesopotamla furnish the best
breeds, and these breeds are divided into five
races. of which the original stock was the ko.
heyleh. The most famous belong either TO the
Shamner or to the AEezya Tribes. Their pedi-
grees are kept scrnpulously, and their value is
great that IA thorough bred mare is generally
owned by ten or even more persons 1t is not t
often that real Arabian can be purchased. The
reason Is that on account of its f1eetness and
power of endurance, it is invaluable TO the Be-
donin, who, ouce its back. can defy any
pursuer except Shammar or Aneyza with a
switter or stronger mare than his own. An
American racer. or even an English hunter
would break down in those pathless deserts, al
most before an Arabian became warmed mp to
its work. Where thorough bred mares have
been sold, they have brought as high as six
thousand dollars; but these, it is understood,
are not the best of the race. The Arab who
sells his mare can do nothing with his gold and
cannot even keep it. for the next Bedouin of a
hostile race, who comes across his path and
who has retained his mare will take il from him
and defy pursuit. Layard thinks that no Arabi-
an of the best blood has ever been seen in Eng
land. If this is so. we can scarcely suppose
that any have come TO America. bnt milst be-
leve hat the so-called Arabians given to onr
Government, at various times, to be OF inferior
breeds Rarely. indeed the thorough breds
found beyond the desert 1t will be IA subject
OF regret. to those who admire fine horses to
learn that the Arabian is considered to be de-
generating, IN consequence of the subiugaiion
OF Arabia, and the decline of the Bedouln tribe
Philadelphia Bulletin.