Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-06-26
The Horses ofth Desert-Gen. Daumas'
Work.

The Horses of the Desert-Gen, Daumas's
Work.
The French General Daumas has written a
work on the horses OF the Sahara, TO which
| Abd-el.Ksder has added many notes General
| Daumss tells, in short, livoly chapters, of the
| Darentsge, birth, early education, management
| though life, character, and power Of the horse
OF the desert Arab, and he has cunningly drawn
| from the Add d-el.Ksder, with whom friendship
was first established when General Daumss was
accredited to him ss French Consul, letters and
commentaries rich in fact,legend and religious
| illustration OF the subject, Arab,wise. The
| high esteem of the hoSe was enforced by the
Prophet on his followers, who, for conquest or
self-defense, were strong and safe only through
the power Of their steeds. MobRmmedsn legend
aud precept alike made the horse man. dearest
care. Thus Add ell. Ksder tells the legend of
the origin of horses:
"When Allah willed to create horse, be said
| TO the south wind; Il will that creature
should proceed from thee-condeDse thyselfn--
and the wind condensed itself. Then came the
Auglo Gabriel, and he took handful Of this
matter and presented 1t to Allah, who formed of
it dark bay, or dark chestnut horse (kDummtc
red mingled with black) saying: Il have
called thee borse (frdsS); have created the
Arab, and have bestowed upon the color koum.
mite have attached good fortune 10 the hair
shat falls between shy eyes. Thou shalt be the
lord (sid) Of oil other animals. Men shall fol
low thee wherever thou goest, Good for pur-
suit as for flight, thou shalt fly without wings.
Upon thy back shall riches repoae, aud through
thy means shall wealth come."
The Arabs have many proverbs relating to
the horse. They say, "Hcrses pray 80 Allah 10
make them beloved by their masters" Allah
| comes to the aid of such as occupy themselves
WiIh horses, aud lghtena the expenees incurred
on their account" Every grain of barley given
to hcrse 10 inscribed by Allah Ia the register
of good works." "Whoso malnsaineth horse
for the triumph Of religion, maketh magnifi-
cent loan to Allah" evil spirits enter not in
TO q tent where there is thoroughbred horse"
Finally, il is eaid; "In this Torld, honor
begins at the stirrup, TO be completed in the
| saddle"
ARAD SUPERSTITION.
But all horzss are not honored alike One
shall be Get apart as worty only OF priuces
while another shall be ga horse of another
color," that ii will be well to cast out of the
camp. The Arab supeFstitons on this subject
are thus pleasantly told by the French General:
"Ben Dyab, q renowned chief OF the desert,
who hDurished In the year of the Hljirs 955,
happening one day 10 be pursued by Saad ell
Zsnaty, sheikh OF the Oulad Yagoub, turned to
his son and asked; What horses are in front of
the enemyp white horaes,' replied his con
IL Ia well; let US make for tho nunny side, and
they will melt away like butter.' Some time
afterward Ben Dyab again turned to hiseon and
said: What horses arc la front OF the enemy y
Black horses,' cried his eon. 1t is we'll; let
us make for stony ground, and we shall have
nothing to tear--they are the negroes OF the
Soudan, who Can cot walk With bare feet upon
the fiuts.' Ho changed his course, aud the
| black hnraes wete speedily Gislanced. A third
time Ben Dyab asked; And now, what horses
are III the ironk of tho enemyr Dark chest
nuls ana dark bsys' Ia that case, exclaimed
Ben Dyab, strike out, my children, strike out
and give your horBes the heel, for these might
pesehalce overtsKe US had We not given barley
to ours all the summer through
I" The coats despiEed are;
"Ths Piebald; Flee from him like the pee
tlence, for.he is own brother 20 the cow
| ''The kouskouiaeau arrives when he Is gone,
And he finds the dispute as soon as he arrives
"The Isabel, With white mane and tail; no
chief would condescend to mount such horse
There are some tribes even that would not con-
sent to allow him to remain o single night with
them. They call such o one sstair el ihoudy,
8 the Jews yellow II 10 10 color that brings
| Ill luck. ..a
| 'i The iron gray
| And the sJew'a yellow,
II his rider returnf from the aght
Cut Oh my hand.t