Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-06-29
The Greyhound Of Africa.


Nothing evinces more the arslOcrslic tastes
Of the Arabs Of Sahara, than their treatment Of
their greyhound. Here, As iR all other Arab
countries, the common dog, whatever the DIili-
yof his employment iR protecting The tents and
flocks, is still regarded a contemplate and
troublesome servant-a SisagreeabIe necessity.
The greyhound alone, as Fhe eompaniOa Of his
chyalrOus pas,imes, is treated BY the Arab
with aflectlOnate attention and respect. While,
therefore, the faithful watchdog is driven forth
from the tent, treated as a vulgar brute, and al
lowed to seek his food among the oiIaI and bOaes
tha; have been thrown out, the greyhound
sleeps in the mems apartment, on a carpet he
side his master, 0T even on his bed. He IS
| and in summer, cakes are made for him Of
milk AMI stoned dates, which are said TO be
highly tonic. II a thorough bred animal, he
will not drink out of dirty vessel, nor will ne
taste milk in which any one has pot bis hands.
He is defended from the cold with coverlets
like the horse, the Arabs having no object TO
his being sensitive in this respect-it il an evi-
dence Of high blood. They delight in decking
him with ornaments, and make for him collars
Of cowry shells, TO which they asSaeh talismans
TO secure him from the blight SG an evil eve.
Al The age Of forty days Ihe pups are re-
moved from the mother, and fed with goats or
camels' milk, mixed with dates and kooskO0s.
AT the age Of three or four months, The edu-
cation Of the greyhound is begun by the chil-
dren starting jerboas, or small deer, and i@dH-
cling him TO give chase. He sGSa becomes SD
fond Of this pastime, that he will bark round
the holes, 10 induce the y01Rgsers 10 renew
the sport. The next game on which he is
tried is the hare; thea the young gazelle. At
tho end Of a year lie has attained his fUll
strength, and is advanced 10 be the companion
Of the master Of the tent, who teacEes him TO
hunt the ful-sized gazele. The Arab talks
TO him as a human being; Listen to me,
friend; thou must bring me some VenisOn | am
tired Of eating nothing but daIes;' whereupon
the dog leaps, wheels about, and mlimaies as
plainly as possible, that he understands his
masters wish, and is abundanlly willing to
comply.
When the dog perceives a herd of thirty OF
forty gazelles, he trem bles with Joy, and looks
wisrfully at his master. 'Ha young Jew
says the Arab, thou wilt not say this time
that thou hast not seen them lie then uniies
an ox-skin, and refreshes the body Of the dog
with sprlnkIing Of water. The impatient
animal turns on him an iwplOriDg eye; he is
loosed on the game, and bounds away but yet
conceals himself, crouches down if he is per-
ceved makes a zigzag course and il is lot
till fairly within reach that he da rts with all
his strength, choosing the finest nf the herd az
his victim. When The hunter cuts up the ga
zelIe, he gives the dog part of The loin If he
were offered any refuse, he would reject il
with disdain. @
thorough bred hound will hunt with no
one but his own master; and he manifesIs due
self respect in his choice ofa prey. lf On lOos-
ing him his master has pointed out fine ga
zele, and he has succeeded only in taking n
small and middling lnoking one,' he seems to
feel the reproach 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
hosPiaiIies he receives. BY his extreme
cleanliness, the kindliness Of his manners, and
his respect for the nsages Of society, he shows
himself worthy Of the attentions thus bestowed
on him. When the Arab returns home after
somewhat prolonged absence, his dog makes
single bound from The tent TO the saddle, and
welcomes him with carresses.
The greyhound Of Sahara is very superior
to that ofthe coast He is tall and fawn-col-
ored, has a thin muzzle, black tongue and
palate, large forehead, short ears, muscular neck
very soft hair, no paunch, dry limbs. and the
muscles Of the Group well marked. A pretty
good one is considered worth fine camel but
those which take The larges, gszelles will bring
as much as horse. A family hunter, how
ever, is never sold \; an Arab would almost as
soon think Of selling one Of his sons. When he
dies, il is a time Of mourning in the tent the
women and children weep aud lament as for
member Of The family.