New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-21


THE GREYHouSDs OF AFRICA. = Nothing
evinces more the aristocratic tastes of the Arabs
of Sahara than their treatment of their grey
hounds. Here, as in all other Arab countries,
the common dog, whatever the utility Of his
employment in protecting the tents and 1ocks,
is still regarded as contemptihle and trouble
some servant--a disagreeable necessity. The
greyhound alone, as the companion of his Chi
valrous pastimes, is treated by the Arab with
affeetionate attention and respect. While,
therefore, the faithful watch dog is driven forth
from the tent, treated as a vulgar brute, and
allowed to seek his food among the offal and
bones that have been thrown out, the grey
hound sleeps IN the mems apartment, on car
pet beside his master, or even on his bed. He is
abundantly but carefully fed with kooskoos;
and in summer, cakes are made for him of milk
and stoned dates, which are said to be highly
tonic. If thorough bred animal, he will not
drink out of dirty vessel, nor will he taste
milk in which any one has put his hands. He
Is defended from the cold with coyerlets like the
horse, the Arabs having no objection to his
being sensitive in this respect; it is an evidence
of high blood. They delight in decking him
with ornaments, and make for him collars of
coRry shells, to which they attach taismans to
secure him from the blight of an evil eye.
At the age of forty days the pups are removed
from the mother, and fed with goats or camefs
milk, mixed with dates and kooskoos.
At bub dSH III tHTeo 9T luuE uOAGHS. tuC 6uuCa-
tion of the greyhound is begun by the children
starting jerboas, or small deer, and inducing
him to give chase, He soon becomes so fond of
this pastime that he will bark round the holes,
| to induce the youngsters to renew the sport.
The next game on which he is tried is the hare,
| then the young gazele. At the end of year
he has attained his full strength, and is adj
vaneed to be the companion of the master of the
tent, who teaches him to hunt the full sized
gazelle. The Arab talks to him as human
being: g Listen to me, friend; thou must bring
| me some venison; am tired of eating nothing
| huttdates," whereupun the dog leaps, wheels
about, and intimates as plainly as possible that
he understands his masters wish, and IS album
dantly willing to comply.
When the doc perceiyes a herd of thirty or
| forty gazelles he trembles with joy, and looks
wistfully at his master. & Ha! young Jew"
SAYS the Arab thou wilt not say this time
that thou hast not seen them. /" He then unties
an OK skin. and rcfreshes the body of the dog
with sprinklng of water. The impatient
animal turns on him an imploring eye; he is
closed on the game, and bounds away; but yet
conceals himself, crouehes down II he is per-
eeiveds makes zgzag course; and Il is not
| till fairly within reach that he darts. with all
his strength, choosing the finest of the herd as
his victim When the hunter cuts up the ga
zelle- he gives the dog part Of the loin; II he
were offered any refuse he would reject IT with
disdain. s5za
Al thorough bred hound will hunt with no one
hut his master; and he manifests due self respect
in his choice of q prey. If, on loosing him. his
master has pointed ont fine gazelle. and he
Ehas succeeded only in taking small and mid
ding looking one, be seems to feel The reprosch
that attaches to the failure, and sinks away
n ashamed, instead Of claiming his accustomed
share. He always accompanies his master when
visiting, and shares whatever hospitalities he
receives BY his extreme cleanliness, the kind
illness Of his manners and his respect for the
usages of society, he shows himself worthy OF
the attentions thus bestowed on him. When
the Arab returns home, after somewhat pro-