St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-07-03
Four Hundred Miles in the
Saddle.
BY REV. c. L. GooDELL, u. d.

through aitStlht. u bllN VI iuolt NtlC
brought on the course in front of the
hotel. Soon the horse of one lady came
running in with the rider pale and
frightened. She declared she wanted
a sheep and not an Arabian horse for
her journey. There was a general
strike among the ladies for moderate
horses. One gentleman's horse ran,
and brought up in a drove OF camels.
An aged clergyman's horse ran away,
and he was finally thrown to the
ground. and taken into the hotel I'M
conscious and remained so for several
hours. Most of the horses were spirited
high-steppers, others were more quiet.
The horsemanship was varied, some
was stylish and some had no style ut
all. In the prancing of the horses, fire.
quently there was ample space between
the rider and horse to see the sun,
moon and stars.
Finally the choices were made with
reasonable satisfaction, nearly every
one of the party, however, having the
secret preference for "a neighbor's horse
instead of his own.
The next morning, on starting, one
lady slipped from her saddle and in
iured her foot. At noon two horses
had ii fierce battle, dashing at each
other, walking on their hind feet and
striking hard blows with their fore feet.
Then they turned and kicked each
other and ended the conflict. A lady
standing near was greatly frightened
and, jumping to escape, fell on sharp
stone, and was much injured. Nearly
all the horses were stations, and this
method of lighting was thing of almost
daily occurrence.
But the horses were soon worked
into line and became serviceable, a
strong attachment in some cases grow
j., between horse and rider, though
every a,.v brought its incidents. a
horse kicked ~ bit or stumbled or
Lpelt down. throwing his rider. One
I,dv,s horse was inclined to lie down
in the worst places. Once II lay down
on the edge of il precipice. lie could
not ford "A brook without ii sudden I'M
pulse Selling him to lie down.
launching about three miles from the
Dead sea, one of our good men eN-
pressed great regret ut not having
bathed in it while there. Raphael, our
.Jehu, was dispatched back with HIM at
IA rapid gait. He duly bathed in the
bitter waters and, Fastening to over
take the party, his horse stepped III a
deep hole and fell. and scattered the
rider far and near, his black coat being
"A great sufferer. This was the last
wild-Arab riding he did. A wcighty
member of the High church was riding
along, meditating, no doubt, upon the
advantages of that over the Broad
church, when suddenly his horse went
down on his knees, sending the rider
full length forward in the dust, afford
ing the rest of us an amusing illustra
ton of the Low church or no churcl
Mt all.
TO stop Il kicking horse OF donkey
the Arabs Jerk their heads up in the air
They can't have their heads and thei
heels up in the air ut the same time
1t is musical in the animal portion o
the encampment mt night. The horses
frequently salute each other, and of thu
most vigorous celebrations of the don
key there is no end. The calm ant
placid countenance of the donkey at al
other times gives no intimatlon of thu
deeply -agitated state of feeling tina
call seems to be an appeal to the nation
and ages. Certainly Socrates heard it
as well as Balaam. The case of TIN
dumb ass that spoke to Balaam is tin
only one of dumbness that has ever APP
peared in the East. In making selec
ton of these animals it is easy to tin'
tied to the tail of donkey will stoI
his music, but this lacks proof.
The Arabians were very faithful il
their service, capable of strong attach
ment, and afforded us great amusement
Their work was very hard, but the.
never appeared to he weary. Thei
circles at night around the camp fire
with story and laughter. seemed neve
to break up; it was the veritable cara
bian Nights Entertainment" The
were astir ut the break of dawn, feed
ing the horses. and we could not fin
when they took their sleep. A littl
tempest among them was of constan
occurrence; their anger burns up an
dies down again like fire of shaving,
but while the heat is on it is intense
Hot, forcible Arabic words exploded i
their mouths like "a mine of dynamit,
and in an hour they would be lik
doves. MahOmet was the head of tn
tent-moving work, and had voice lik
bull of Bashan. When boxes, an
tent-poles and tables, and camp-sUOol
were in dire confusion. and each ma
pulling Il separate way, l have see
him bow over and put his hands on hi
knees, and roar in classic Arabic unit
all the men stopped, and profoun
silence reigned. Then he would Civ
his orders. In great storm of win
and rain, which came upon the cam
they were heroic and efficient, dIivin
tent-pins, strengthening ropes, repair
ing the sides of tents that had bee
torn up, catching loose horses and pro