The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-21
THE GREYHOUND OF AFRICA.

NOlnlny eVinces more tno aIis'oo'"is
tastes of the Arabs OF Sahara, than their
ireatmen, uf their greyhonnjs. Here, as In
all other Arab countries, the common dog,
whatever The utility Of his employment, in
protecting The tents and hOcks, is still re.
sarded as contemplate and troublesome
servan, Il disagreeable necessity. The
greyhound alone, as The companion OF his
chivalrous pasiimes, is treated by The Arab
with affrciuuale attention and respect
While, therefore, the faithful watchdog Is
driven forth from the tent, treated as vul.
gar brute, and allowed 10 seek his food
among The offi,l and bones that have been
thrown out, the greyhound sleeps in The
mems apartment on carpet beside his
master, or even on his bed. He is nbun.
danily but carefully fed with koos koos ;
and in summer cakes are made Tor him ol
milk and stoned dates, which are said TO be
hi.hly tonic. II thoro' bred an NAL, he
will not drink out Of a dirty vessel, nor
will he taste milk in which any one has
pu, his hands. He is defended from :he
cold with coverlels like The horse, The
Arabs having no objection 10 his being
sensitive in this respect = II Is an evidence
of high blood. They delight in decking
him with ornaments, and make Tor HIM
collars of cowry shells, 10 which they allacl
tails mans TO secure them from The blight OF
an evil eye.
At the age of forty days the pups are re.
moved from the mother, and fed with goals
or camels' milk, mixed with dates and
koOskoOs.
Al The age Of three or four months, The
education Of The greyhound is begun, by
The children starting jerboas, or small deer,
aud inducing him TO give chase. He soon
becomes 50 fond of this pas,ime, ,ha, he
win bark round The holes, TO induce The
Youngsters TO renew the sport The nex'
game OIL which he IL tried Is the hare; 'he'
The young nazelle. A, the end oi a yea,
he has attained his full strength, ana Is au
vanced 10 be the companion oi The masle'
of the tent, who teaches him TO hunt I'M
full.sized sazelle. The Arab talks 10 mn
as a human being: "Listen 10 me-, friend
lhou must bring me some venisoh; ! an
tired of eating nothing but dales;" where
upon the dog leaps, wheels about, aud III
Inmates rs plainly as possible that he under
stands his masters wish, and is abundan'iy
willing 10 comply.
When the dog perceives herd OF thirty
or forty gaz.lles, he ,rembles with Joy, and
looks wislfuly at his master. ''Ha! young
Jew" says The Arab, "lhou VIII mol say
This time that thou hast not seen ihem.'
He then unlies an ox-skin, and ielreshes
The body of The dog with q sprinkling ol
water. Ths impatient animal turns on MN
an imploIing eye; he is loosed on the game,
and bounds away; but yet conceals hlm.
self, crouches down If perceived makes
zigzag course, aud il is not unlll iaiIiy
within reach that he darts with all his
strength, choosing The finest OF The herd rs
his victim. When The hunier cuts up The
sazelle, he gives the dog part OF the io'n I;
il he were offered any refuse, he wouiu re-
ieci il with disdain. =,
A thorough bred hound will hunt with
no one but his own master; and nc maui
tests due seli.respecl in his choice 0i q prey:
II on loosing him his master has polnied
out fine gazelle, and.h he has succeeded IN
taking only a small and middling looking
one, he seems 10 feel the The repIoach that
attaches 10 The failure, and sinks away
ashamed instead Of claiming his accustomed
share. He always accompanies his master
when visiting, and shares whatever hospi'
,alilies he receives. By his extreme clean.
illness, the kindliness Of his manners, and
his respec, for The usages OF society, ne
shows himself worthy the attentions thus
bestowed on him. When the Arab returns
home after somewhat prolonged absence,
his dog makes single bound from The 'en'
to The saddle, and welcomes him with ca
resses.
The greyhound Of Sahara is very superior
10 lha, Of the coast. He is tall and lawn
colored, has Thin muzzle, black Tongue
and palate, large forehead, short ears, mus.
cular neck, very sofi hnir, no pa'incf, dry,
limbs, and the muscles Of the Group well
marked. A pretty good one is considered
worth fine camel; BY, those which take The
largest pazeles will bring rs much as morse
Afamily hunter, however, is never so'd
an Arab would almost rs soon thiuk oi set
linz one of his sons. When he dies, II !.
tune Of mourning in The tent: The women
and children weep and lament as for mem
Der Of The family.
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