Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-01
Arab Horses and Stables.

The following description of Arab horses
aud stables is extracted from zone of the adj
mirable " Letters from Algiers" written over
the signature of d" Phantom, in the London
Field:
The town of lilidah was totally DESTROY
ed by an earthquake in the year 1928. and
ls,O00 persons are supposed to have been
buried in its ruins The survivors retired IN
the distance of about mile from the old
town, with the intention of raising new city /:
however, their love for their old haunts in.
ducod them soon TO abandon the idea. and a
new town rose from amidst the ruins of the
old one. Bldah was surnamed the ,yolup.
tuous by the inhabitants of Algiers its situ.
alton at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. and
its beautiful enyirons with their stately orange
groves, combine to render it most attract
i've city. 1t is here that the Government
have placed their establishment for improving
the breed OF Arab horses \ French officer
was so kind as to take us over the stud.
-" The oyility and genuine good-heartiness
of all those French gentlemen we had the
happiness TO become acquainted with. added
greatly to the enjoyment of our visit to Al.
geria, and we shall always entertain a lively
recollection of the hospitality and consdera.
ton shown us by our French friends
The stud is composed of about forty hor-
ses. There are horses from Syria. runis
Morocco and Algeria, Some of them have
been bought for large sums. III Maz, a white
syrian horse, Of great strength and standing
about fifteen hands, has cost one thousand
guineas, and was present from the Emperor
! was also much struck with the symmetry of
a little chestnut horse, up to immense weight.
called Maihadin which was bred near Blidnh
During the Spring months, these horses make
the tour OF the Provinces, so that any of the
Arabs may improve the breed of their ami.
mails gratis, receiving at the same time, GER
'lheate OF the parentage of the colt. The
stables are all open sheds, having straw blinds
~ front, which may be let down, as protec-
tion against either wind, rain, or sun. The
food of the horses consists of barley-straw
with little barley. They are well cared
Tor and treated with scrupulous kindness.
Their docility is astonishing Ii is a strik.
ing sight to see 80 many entire horses stand
ing in long open sheds, without partitions.
close together, and merely fastened with the
usual cord, which hobbies them all by the
fore-leg.
As | have before observed, the wind off
these horses is quite astonishing. Sometimes,
In expeditions against the Arabs, the French
soldiers have been in the saddle from five A.
NJ tiil ten p, NJ, and performed distance of
elghiy-hye miles without giving a mouthful of
food 10 their horses. The horses when on the
march, never sleep under cover; they are al. |
ways ready for work, and never all anything.
Three things are indispensable to an Arab |
horse--a good eye, good foot, aud good
appetite The price given for repimenta
horses varies from three hundred and 6fty to
four hundred francs. The Arabs illustrate
their estimate Of the different colors of hors.
es by the following tale; A chief of a tribe
was once pursued by his enemies. He said
to his son; My son, drop to the rear, and