The Barb, so famed in Europe, was never brought to India ; reared by the Moors of Barbary and Morocco, during their dominion in that country, the barb was introduced into Spain, where, how ever, it has been suffered to degenerate greatly since their expulsion. The noble barbs arc of rare occurrence even in their own country. The common horse of Barbary is a very inferior animal. In the beauty and symmetry of their forms, however, even the barbs are far from excelling ; their valu able qualities—and in these they are perhaps un equalled by any other breed in existence—are unrivalled speed, surprising bottom, abstinence, patience, and endurance under fatigue, and gentle. ness of temper.
Arabian horses are now-a-days comparatively little seen in India. A larger horse, with greater power, has been needed, to meet the wants of the British Government for its heavier ordnance and heavier soldiers, and for the larger carriages now in use by Europeans and the wealthier natives. Also, the prices demanded for the Arab horses are beyond the means of ordinary purchasers, and the Arab never was in great request in India, except as a riding horse. The chief, Abd-el-Kadir, speak ing of Arab horses. said, ' A thoroughbred horse is one that has three things long, three things short, three things broad, and three things clean. The three things long are the ears, the neck, and the fore legs ; the three things short are the dock, the hind legs, and the back ; the three things broad are the forehead, the chest, and the croup ; the three things clean are the skin, the eyes, and the hoof. He ought to have the withers high and the flanks hollow, and without any superfluous flesh.' These arc very nearly the words which writers use in describing perfection in horses, and in these matters, therefore, they scent to have borrowed their ideas from Arabian writers.
The best Arab horses are bred in the desert by the Anazah tribe, in whose territory, before the conquest of the Wahabees, the district of Nejd was included, where the richest pasture of Arabia is found. That name, in India, used to procure a high price at all times for a horse. The Anazah is one of the largest and most extensively sub divided of the Bedouin tribes. They have the best horses. They visit Nejd as well as Syria. Some of the Anazah Arabs have a great promin ence in the foreheads. The marks at the base of the ears of the Anazah and other horses, have their origin in the custom of the Bedouin, of stitching tho new-born foal's ears together, to make them take what is thought the proper share. Purveyors
of the Indian market, knowing that the Indian purchasers look for such marks, frequently counter feit them on the baser born breeds which they buy for India, by branding them in the right place with the firing-iron.
In the Arab horse, says Colonel Shakespeare, the favourite colours in India are greys of kinds. The nila, i.e. a grey with a blue skin, is generally more hardy that the sabza, a grey with a light coloured skin, and the feet of the nila are more generally black than'the sabza. The other colours are bay and brown of different shades, and ches nuts. Black is very rare. Arab roans are common. The high-caste Arab is phlegmatic and wearisome to ride when unexcited; trips in his walk, and does not step out ; but when roused by emulation in the hunt or race, will go at full speed over rock and stone, when the soil is not visible, or up and down the sides of a precipice, and, if properly handled, never make a mistake.
The Arab people do not keep any long pedigrees of their thoroughbred horses. The certificates which they furnish merely give the names of the clans, under the assumption that the purity of blood is notorious throughout tho tribe. Of all their domestic animals, Arabs put the greatest value on their horses.
The time to see the horses and horsemen of Damascus in their glory, is about sunset on the Merj and the neighbouring road, where they arc regularly exercised. If the master does not ride, a groom is sent out, and tho young foals gambol loose by their dam's side, till they are old enough to be ridden, which is at an early age. Their education begins often with learning the Tallinn pace, which is much esteemed. It is generally taught by tying the feet on the right and left side together, each to each,—the right front to the right hind, and so with the left. An animal who excels in this kind of amble is worth a largo sum, be lie ever so ill-bred or poor in appearance. The value of the accomplishment lies in its comfort to rider and ridden, for so smooth is the pace, that a brim ' suing cup of water may be held at full speed without spilling ; and so easy is it for the horse, that a well-trained one is supposed to cover the distance between Damascus and Beyrout in eight or nine hours. When we consider that the actual length of road is 72 miles, twice ascending and descending several thousand feet in crossing the ranges of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, the per formance is certainly creditable.