The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-10
TROTTING HORSES.
The Growth and Development
of This Animal.
fContinued.)

horse cannot with certainty be traced,
domesticated in Egypt, but the precise
period it is very difficult to settle.
Nineteen hundred and twenty years be-
fore the birth OF Christ, when Abraham,
having left Haran in obedience to the
divine command, was driven into Egypt
by the famine which ragged in Canaan,
Pharoah offered him sheep and oxen,
and asses and camels. Horses would
doubtless have been added, had they
then existed or had they been subdued
in Egypt. When, fifty years afterwards,
Abraham journeyed to Mount Moriah to
offer up his only son, he rode upon an
ass, which, with all his wealth and
power, he would scarcely have done had
the horse been known
Thirty years later, when Jacob re-
turned 10 Isaac with Rachael and Leah,
an account is given Of the number of
oxen, sheep, camels, goats and asses
which he sent to appeaso the anger of
Esau, but not one horse is mentioned.
1t was not until twenty-four years
after this, when tho fam inc devastated
Canaan and Jacob sent into Egypt to
buy corn, that horses are first heard of.
Wagons Drawn by horses were sent by
Joseph into Canaan to bring his
father to Egypt. 1t would seem,
however, that horses had been but
lately introduced, or not used as beasts
of burden, for the whole Of the corn,
which was to he conveyed some hun
dreds OF miles, and was to afford susten-
ance for Jacobs large household, was
carried on asses, Genesis, II 10. About
the year TAO before Christ is the period
when horses appear to have been used
first in Egypt. They appear, however,
to have rapidly increased and spread
abroad, for when the Israelites returned
into Canaan tho Canaanite went out to
fight against Israel with chariots and
horsemen very many. The sacred vol
ume seems, therefor to decide the i'm
portant point, that the first domestlca.
ton of the horse was in Egypt. Another
point also, it decides thac Arabia, by
whose breed Of horses those of other
countries have been SO much improved,
was not the native place of the horse
600 years after the time just referred to-
Arabia had no horses. Solomon i'm
ported silver, gold and species from
Arabia-2 Chronicles, La, but all the
he procured from Egypt Chronicles,
LII. In this place it is mentioned that
horse brought from Egypt cost $50
shekols Of silver, which would amount
10 about $50, an enormous price for
those days. The horses of Arabia itself,
and OF the southeastern parts of Europe,
are clearly derived from Egypt, but
whether they were there bred or i'm
ported from the southwestern regions
of Asia, cannot with certainty be deter.
mined.
AT the head of the African breeds and
perhaps at the head of all other brt eds.
may be placed the Barb from Barbary,
and particularly from Morocco and Fee,
an animal from which have descended
so many noted for it's fine and graceful
action. The Barb has chiefly contrib
uted to the excellence Of the Spanish
horse, and when the improvementof the
breed of horses began to be- systematic-
ally pursued in Great Britain, the Barb
was very easily introduced The Godol-
phin Arabian, as he was called, was TIE
origin Of some OF tho best English rae ny
blood. lie was Barb and others OF
their most celebrated turf horses trace
their descent from African mares. AS TO
the manner in which the above horse
WAS introduced into England, different
accounts have been given. According
to one writer. his introduction Was by
means o. Col. Coke, an Engishman of
fortune and education, who on account
OF several crimes, was obliged to flee
from England, and during his absence
Travelled into Syria, and thence into
Arabia. In this latter country he acct
dentallY heard of the above hor.e,
which it, was stated belong to a certain
n Vic ~
was unable to purchase the horse on ac-
count Of tho great value put upon MIN.
He contrived however to steal him
made his escape-and reached Damietta,
4 seaport near the mouth Of the
Nile, whence he sailed with the
horse and took up his residence
in France until he could appear
in England and be restored to his fam
lily. At this time the Earl OF Godol-
phin was prime minister uf England To
him Coke presented the horse. His
lordship was great lover Of the horse
and was considered one OF the best
Judges in that country, and he pro.
nounced TO be one of the finest and be st
looking Arabian horse he ever saw.
At first his lordship refused to accept
.hc horse as present. alleging that il
would be entirely inconsistent with his
dignity and station to accept so valua-
bic a present (Which must have co 1t an
immense sum to purchaser from IL
stranger. Buff Col. Coke, as DC STYLED
himself, would part with the horse, he
would give him blank check on the
Bank of England which he. Col. Coke,
might lup with any sum he pleased
Col. Coke told his lordship that he would
never sell the horse, alleging at tho
same time, that he, with great diff
Guilty, labor and expense, and after
travelling in Arabia upwards of three
YparS. DrOcurpd tho hnrSn for tho ny.