Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-04-15
The Arab Horse.

Layard, the explorer of Ninevah, who is as ia.
mlllar with Arabs as he is with antiquities, gives
IN his late work on ASSyria, some curious details
respecting the true horse oil the desert. Contrary
to the popular notion, the real Ara is celebra
ted less for unrivaled swiftness than for extraur-
dlna ~ powers OF endurance. Its usual PAGES are
about two, quick walk, often averaging four or
hye miles an hour, and a half running cantcr; for
only when pursued does Bedouin put his mare 10
full speed. 1t is in the distance they will travel
in emergency, the weight they will carry, and the
comparative trife of food they require which rem
der the Arabian horses SO valuable. Layard SAYS
that he knew OF celebrated male, which had car
RED two men in chain amor beyond the reach of
some Aneyza purSuerS. This mare rarely had more
than twelve handfuIls of barley in twenty -four
hours, except during the spring, when the pastures
were green; and it is only the mares of the wealthy
bedoulns that can get even this allowance. The
consequence is, that exctptin the spring. the Arab
horse is lean and unsightly. They are never pla-
teu under cover during summer, nor prote cted from
the oltltng winds of the desert, in winter. The
saddle IS rarely taken from their backs. Cleaning
and grooming are strangers to Them. They some-
times reach fifteen hands in height, ami never fall
below fourteen. In disposition they are docile as
lambs, requiring no guide but haltel; yet In the
hight or pursuit, their nostrilS become blood-red
their eyes glitter with fire, the neck is arched and
the maine and tail raised and spread out to the
wind;-the whole animal becomes transformed
Inc vast plains of Mesopolamia furnis h the
best breeds, and these bIeeds.are divided into five
races, Of which the original stock was the Kohey-
leh. The most famous belong either TO the Sham
mar, or to the Aneyza tribes. Their pedrrees are
keptScrupuously, and their value is so great, that
thorough bred mare is generally owned by ten,
or even more persons. 1t is not often that real
Arabian can be purchased. The reason is that.
on account of its fleeiness and power of endu-
rance, 1t is invaluable TO the Bedouin, who once
on its back, can defy any purSuer except Sham
mar or Aneyza with swifter or stronger mare than
his own. An American racer, or even an English
hunter, would break down, in those painless des-
erts, almost before an Arabian became warmed IN
to its work Where thoroughbred mares have
been sold, they have brought us high as six tious
and dollars; but these, i! is understood, are not
the best of the The Arab who sells his mare,
cando nothing with his gold, and cannot even
Keep 1t, for the next Bedoun of hostile tribe
who comes across his path, and who has retained
ms mare, Will take it from him, and defy pursuit.
@ayard thinks that no Arabian of the best blood
has ever been seen in England. If this is so, we
can scarcely suppose that any have come to Amer
sca but must believe the called Arablans, Civ
en- to our government, at various times 10 be OF the
inferior breeds. Rarely. indeed, are the thor
ough- breds found beyond the desert. 1t will be
subjectof regret, TO those who admire fine hor-
SEES, 10 learn that The Arabian is considered to be
degenerating, the CO nsequence of the subiugation
oil Arabia, and the decline of the Bedouin trioe.