The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-20
THE MIsSIssIpPIAN.
corrspsndsncs Of - Boston Traveler.
The Horse Tanner in the Arabian Desert


BErnUr. March 20. 1860
Our distinguished conntryman, NJ. j. ..
R.rsv aIfar Winning golden opinions in Eng
Land and Frarice. where be has amassed large
fnrt,,ne hos been spending some time in the
5ssert If Arabia, among the Arabs and their
6ne horses In this eastern trip, however,
he combined business with pleasure, for he
az made the only orthodox tonr through the
eountrv--that is to say. from Jatta to Jerusa
lem thence to Damascus via Samaria and the
Sea Of GaliIee and thus to Beirut by way Of
of Baalbec, making at the sans time several
detours into the desert to search for the great
tribe Of Bedouins who hang among the hor-
ders Of Syria and Palestine. IN Jerusalem he
literally uastonished the natives in subduing
the ferocty Of the Pacha's stud, and By an
exhibition Of his power over the horse crea-
ton before the resident Consuis. His pur-
suit after the Bedouin camps. however, was
unsuccessful. A three days ride into the
desert convinced him that they were beyond
his reach; and when he was informed that
they were more than twenty days journey be-
yond the Jordan, he abandoned the search,
contenting himself with seeing all the Arabian
horses in Jerusalem, Damascus and Beirut.
In Beirut Mr.. Rarey received every atten
ton to which mis- reputation entitled him and
the American and European Consuls General
treated him with great respect. Invitations
to dinner and deiettrRer crowded upon him in
such numbers that he was forced to decline
some of them for want Of time. The stud of
the French Consul General, Count Beniero-
glis. composed of fifteen splendid Arabian
horses, received his special attention, and were
pronounced to be remarkably fine collection.
One incident connected with the visit of enr
noted eountryman to Syria IS of peculiar iH-
terest. Mr. johnson, the United States Con-
sui introduced him 10 the somewhat faRous
Ayoub Bey, who presented Hon. William H.
Seward. of New York, while visiting this
country last summer, with three fine Arabian
horses. which are to be forwarded to the Uni
ted States BY the first opportunity. Inas-
much as Ayoub Beg claimed for these horses
the best blood in Syria, our Consul was anx
ious to obtain Mr.. Rarey's opinion upon these
specimen horses, which are so soon to be ship
ped to Auburn, New York. The Bey or
iered odt the Seward horses, On two OF them
rather. for one was absent IN the mountains,
and they were trotted up and down the
paved courtyard to the great delight of
those were gatherd to witness some grand
exhibition.
There was no exhibition, but Mr.. Rarey,
after examining them thoroughly, declared
himself better pleased with them than any
Others he had seen in Syria One is colt
of two years, and the other large bay of
seven years.
l am 10th to say that Mr.. Rarey was some
what disappointed in Arabian horses, mas
much as be declares them to be understood
and inferior to many horses he has seen IN
Aaerica or England. But as he has had no
experience in trying their speed or endurance,
and speaks simply in reference to their ap-
pearance and display when in motion, his ex-
preston of dissatisfaction may be received in
a very qualified sense.
The horses OF Syria are mild and gentle in
disposition, and very few require the skill of
the great American horse tanner TO make trac-
table, for it would seem that every Arab is BY
nature horse tanner, and doubtless possesses
the same system exhibited by Rarey, who de-
clares that he eontlols the horse by no great
secret or any personal influence, but BY sys-
tenn at once simple and natural. which can be
practiced by Others as well as by himself
The Arab and his horse are members of the
same family circle are educated in the same
bed They know each other, love each other,
and are ready to fight and die for each other |
rest his movements OF curb to guide him.
Sometimes with simple halter, and fire.
ouently with none at all, the Arab rides his
steed over plain and mountain at furious
pace, stopping suddenly and abruptly at will,
and turning in either direction in battle, in
pursuit or retreat, guiding and restraining |
solely BY motion of the hand If MIR. Rarey !
be correct in saying that the Arabian horse is
smaller and less snowy than the horse of
America, he must be convinced that the horse |
of the Arab is more intelligent and docile, be- |
cause trained from early life to an intimate /
association with his owner, and never left TO a /
cross and surly groom.
The American residents in Syria were |
gratifed at the visit of Mr. Rarey, not only |
because he received attentions from ConsulS /
and Pachas as an American, but from the /
pleasure afforded then By a personal scquain- |
lance with the man. Modest and un-assum-
ing, and at the same time frank and cordial, /
he pleased every one. and convinced the Sy- t
ran world that an ADeriesSs-1-sb celebra- /
led WIrh0oSWas<sz111l.re lsstsvErzAtscr1
never ESnelis of the shop" for the subject Of I
his great study--the HORSES never men I
toned by himself in society; but when the |
subject IS introduced by others, he eonverses |
freely, but without conveying the impression !
that he supposes his opinion more valuable
than that of Others or that he is the Mr.. RAJ
rev who has had the mobiles of England for
his scholars and the crowned heads of Eu-
rope for his auditors.
Having left Syria for Cyprus, Rhodes and
Constantinople, he will no doubt find much to
interest him in the latter place, while exereis-
inc his skill in the stables Of the Sultan.