Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-04-26
0be Dailp bireiniau.
The Arab Horse.

Layard, the explorer of Ninevah, who ia
as familiar with Arabsa heis with Antiquities,
gives, in his lato work Oh Assyria, some curiou.
details respecting the true horse of the desert.
Contrary TO the popular notion, the real Ara
ban is less celebrated Tor unrvaed swiftness
than for extraordinary endurance. Its usual
PAGES are butt quick walk, often averag-
ing four or FIVE miles an hour, and half run.
nIng canter, for only when pursued does Be
doun put his mare to full speed. 1t is the
distance they will travel in emergency. the
weight they will carry, and the comparative
trifle of food they require, which render the
Arah horse so valuable. Layard says that he
knew of a celebrated mare, which had carried
two men in chain armor beyond the reach o.
Aneyza pursuers. This mare rarely had more
than twelve hand.fulIs of barley in twenty four
hours, except during the spring, when the pas
lures were green and it is only the mares OF
wealthy Bedouins that can get even this allow.
ance. The consequence is, that except in the
spring, the Arab horse is lean and unsight!y.
They are never placed under cover during
summer, nor projected from the biting winds
of the desert in winter. The saddle is rarely
taken from their backs. Cleaning and groom
ing are strangers to them. They some times
reach fifteen hands in height, and never fall be
low fourteen. 10 disposition they are as do
cile as lambs. requiring no guide but halter;
yet in the fight or pursuit, their nostrlls be.
come biood-red, their eyes glitter with f,e,the
neck is arched, and the name and tail are
raised and spread out to the wind the whole
animal becomes transformed.
The vast plains of Mesopotama furnish the
best breeds and these breeds are divided into
five races, of hich the orig inal stock was
the Kohey leg h. The most famous belong ell
ther to the Shammar, or to the Aneyza tribes.
Their pedlgrees arekept scrupulously 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 pur
chased. The reason is that, account of its
heetness and power of endurance, it is invalu
able to the Bedouin, who, once on its back,
can defy any pursuer except a Shanmar or
Aneyza NTH a swifter or stronger mare than
his own. An American racer, or even
English Hunter, would break down. in those
pahless deserls, almost before Arabian be-
came warmed up at its WORK. Where thor
ough 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 god and cannot even keep it;
for the next Bedouin of a hostile tribe who
comes across his path, and who has retained
bis mare, will take it from him.a defy pursuit.
Layard thinks that no Arabian ofthe best blood
has ever been seen in England. If this is so.
we can scarcely suppose that any have come
to America, but must believe the so call.
ed Arabians, given to our government, at va
rious times, to be of inferior breeds. Rarely.
indeed ARE the thorough breds found beyond
the desert 1t will be subject of regret, to
those who admire fine horses, to learn that The
Arabian is considered to be degenerating, the
consequence ofthe subjugation of Arabia, and
the decline of the Bedouin tribes.-PAH BW.
letia