Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-05-23
THE GREYuoUNDs OF AFRICA.

THE GREYHOUNDS OF AFRICA.
Nothing evinces more the aristocratic
tastes of the Arabs of Sahara, than their
treatment Of their greyhounds. Here as
in All other countries, the common dog,
whatever the utility of his employment in
lnrottctiag the tents and hocks, is still re-
garded as a contemplate and troublesome
servant-a disagreeable necessity. The
greyhound alone. as the companion Of his
chivalrOus pastimes, is treated by the
Arab with attcctiOnate attention and re-
spect. 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 otfaI and bones
that have been thrown out, the greyhound
sleeps in the mems apartment, on Il car
pet beside his master, or even on his bed.
He is abundAnlv but carefully fed with
kooskoos and in the summer. cakes
made for him of milk and stoned dates,
which are said to be highly tonic. If a
thorough bred animal, he will not drink
out of a dirty vessel, nor will he taste
milk in which any one has i,S. his hands.
He is defended from the cold with cover
lets like the horse. the Arabs having no
objection to his being sensitive in tins re-
spect-it is and evidence of high blood.
They delight IN decking Kim with orna~
ments, and make for I'm collars Of cuwry
shells, to which they attach t"lismnus 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 camel's milk, mi cd 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
He soon becomes SO fond of this pastime.
that he will bark round the holes, TO in
duce the youngsters to renew the sport.
The next game on which he is tired is the
hare ; the young gazeIIc. At the end of
a year he has attained his full strength,
and is advanced to become the companion
OF the master of the tent, who teaches
him TO hunt the full sized gazellc. 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 dates" Whcreupon tie dog
leaps, wheels about, and in;ima;cs, as
plainly, as possible, that he understands
his masters wish, and is abundanlly will
ling to comply.
When the dog pcrccives Il herd Of thir
ty or forty gnzrtAcs he trembles with JOY,
and looks wiSt(uliy at his master. "Ha!
young Jew" says the Arab, thou wilt
not say this time that thou hast not seen
them" He then unli"s an OX~skin, and
refrcsLes the body Of the dog with IL
gprinkEnS of water. The impatient ani~
NAL turns on him an imploring eye he
is loosed on the game, and bounds away;
but yet conoeais himself, crouchcs down
if he is perceived makes zgzag course
and it is not till Airy within reach that
he darts with all his strength choosing
the finest Of the herd as his victim.-
When the hunter cuts up the gazclIc, he
gives the dog part Of the iOtn ii he were
offered any refuse, he would re ject it with
hISdain.
y through bred hourd will hunt with
no one but his master; and he mani[csts
due self respect in his choice Of a prey
II on loosing him his master has pointed
out a fine gazele and he has succeeded
only in taking small and middling look
ing one, he seems to feel the reprOach
that attaches to failure, and sinks away
ashamed instead of claiming his accus
toned share. l'e always accompanies
his master when visiting, and shares
whatever hOspitalites he receives. BY
his extreme cleanliness the kindlincSs
Of his manners, and his respect for the
usages of society, he shows himself wor-
thy of the attentions thus bestowed on
him. When the Arab returns home at
ter a somewhat prolonged absence, his
dog makes a single bound from the tent
to the saddle, and welcomes him with
caresses.
The greyhound OF Sahara is very su-
Perior to that of the coast. He is tall and
fawn coIored. has thin mzzle, black
tongue and palate. large forehead, short
cars ; muscular neck, very soft hair, no
paunch dry limbs, and the muscles OF the
Group we'll marked. A pretty good one
is considered worth a fine. camel but
those which take the largest gazelles
will bring as much as horse AfamiIy
hunter, however, is never sold; an Arab
would almost as soon think Of selling one
OF his sons. When he dies, it is a time
OF mourning in the tent the woman and
children weep and lament as for member
Of the family.
R~IL is a hitter thino vyLor n c,,,;)