Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-11-19
Arab Horses and Stables.


The following description Of Arab horses
and stables. Is extracted from one Of the ad-
mirable letters from Algiers, written over
the signature Of Phantom, in the London
Field
The town Of BldAh was totally de-
stroycd by an earthquake in lSsj, and
l. ,Oco rcr-,ns are supposed 10 have been
buried in ~ ruins The Survivors retired
10 the distance Of abou, mile from the old
town. with the intention Of raising a new
city. however. their love for their olG
hauuts soon induced them 10 abandon the
idea, and new town arosc from amiis, the
ruins OF the old one. Blidah was surnAmed
the voluptuous BY the Inhabitants Of Al
ger it, situation at the foot Of the Atlas
Mountains, and its beautiful envirOns with
their stately orange groves, combine 20 ren-
der il a most attractive city. II i here tina,
the eovernmcn, have placed their establish
meni for improving the brccd Of Arab hor.
So.
The eiyih,y and genuine COOL hearii.
nc-s Of all those French gentlemen We bad
The happiness to become acquainted with,
added greatly TO the snjoyment Of our visi,
90 Algeria, and We shall ever entertain
lively recollection Of the hospitality and
consideration shown Us by our French
friends.
The stud Is composed of about forty
horscs. There are horses from Syria, Tunis,
Morocco. and Algeria. some OF them have
been bought Tor large sums. II MaI, a
white syrian horse Of grvai strength, and
standing about fitccn hands, has cost one
thousand guinea', and Is prosen, from the
Emperor. was also much struck with The
symmetry Of - little chestnut horse, up TO
immense weight, called Maihadil, which
was bryl near Biiah. During the spring
months, thcss horsc- make the tour Of the
Provinces, 80 that any Of the Arabs may
Improve the breed Of their animals gratis,
recciung at the same time a certificate Of
the parcntasc Of the colt. The stables are
open sheds, having straw blinds in front,
which may be lei down a. protection
agains, either wind. rain or SUI. The food
of the horscs consists OF barley straw with
ligte barley. They are well cared Tor,
and treated with scrupulous kindness Their
dociliiy is astonishing. I, is striking
sight to -cc - many horses standing ia open
she'd, without partitions. close together,
and nearly fastened with the usual cord.
which hobbies them al by the fore Lex,
"AsI before observed, the wind Of thc.e
Lorso- i quite astonishing S5ms;ime., in
expeditions agains, the Arabs, the French
soldiers have been in the saddle from \.
NJ. till 10 p. NJ, and performed a distance
Of eighy-6ve miles without, giving mouth
iull Of food % their horses. The horses,
when on the march, never sleep under GOV.
er, they are always ready f1r work, aud
never all anything. Three things are indis-
p,usahls % an Arab hor~c-a good eve,
good foot, and good appetite. The price
given for resimental horses varies from $50
o. 800 francs. The Arabs illustrate their
estimate Of the different eolors Of horse. by
the following tale
"a chief Of a ,ribc was once pursued BY
his enemies. he said to hi- sJn Ny sou,
drop 10 the rear, aud tell me the color of the
horsc. Of our Zoe. and may Allah burn hIs
grandfather White was the answer.
Then We will 60 south, said the chief /;
for in the vas; plains Of the desert the wind
OF white horse will not stand in a pro-
tracied chase Again the chief -aid MY
son. what col0rcd horses pursue u.s. Black,
q nv father We will then 20 among
the stones, and on rocky ground, Tor the
Zee, Of black horses are not strong 4 third
time the Young Arab was sent TO the rear,
and reported chestnut horses. Then said
the old chief. We are lost; who but Allah
can deliver us from chestnut horScs3' Dun
or cream colorcd hor-es the Arabs consider
worthless. and ht only for jess to ride
They sAy, also, that a hea-bitien horse Is
never bad one.