is situated at the south-western extremity of Asia. It is bounded on the south-west by the Red Sea and the Isthmus of Suez; on the north east by the Persian Gulf, and the lower course of the Euphrates; on the north-west by Syria, the Euphrates, and the intervening desert; and on the south-east by the Indian ocean. The country is described as a vast collection of rocky and precipitous mountains, encircled by a border of low, barren, and sandy plains, which differ widely in their climate, soil and productions. The plains consist, either of bare rocks, or of hard or loose sand, and suffer from an almost constant drought, there being no rivers; consequently the deep wells and springs scattered at distant intervals, and which are generally surrounded by a small margin of the most refreshing verdure, form the sole resource of the fainting traveller. The temperature of other tropical climates is moderate in comparison with the heat of these deserts, where the thermometer is generally above 100° during the night, in the morning 108°, and in the course of the day rises to 110°, and often higher, in the shade. The mountainous tracts immediately behind these dry and sandy deserts, stretch backwards from the sea shore, and contain numerous vallies of remarkable fertility, forming the celebrated region called by the ancients Arabia Felix.

Such is the country justly renowned for ages for the swiftness, patience of fatigue, spirit, and docility of temper, of its breed of horses. We have before observed that Arabia cannot lay claim to the honour of having been the original nursery of the horse, nor is it known at what period, or from whence, it obtained this useful animal. Even so late as the seventh century of the christian era, so far was Arabia from abounding in horses, that the historian who relates the attack of the prophet Mahomet upon the Koreish, near Mecca, mentions only two as following in his train; and although in the plunder of this cruel and exterminating expedition, he carried with him on his return 24,000 camels, 40,000 sheep, and much silver, horses do not appear to have formed a portion of the spoil. Among the numerous memorable acts of Mahomet, certainly not the least worthy of attention may be said to be the formation of those breeding studs, which we firmly believe laid the real foundation of the perfection of the Arabian horse.

The following interesting tradition of the origin of the Kochlani, or Kailhan, or noble race of horses, whose genealogy, with true Eastern exaggeration, has sometimes even been traced to the stud of Solomon, is from a German work on Arabia. The author relates that the Arabian

prophet, wishing to set aside from his stud the best mares, in order to form a distinct and perfect breed, had them all kept for two entire days and nights without water. On a sudden, when almost mad with thirst, the mares are released, and gallop with the swiftness of the wind to the well-known spring. When in view of the refreshing waters, by a preconcerted signal, the trumpets sound a war charge. At this wellknown sound five of the mares, forgetting in a moment the agonies of their thirst, leave untasted the waters of the spring, and gallop to the imagined war; and from these five mares the author imagines the noblest breed to have descended.

The dry air and soil of Arabia seem peculiarly adapted to produce hard muscular fibre; accordingly we find the Arabian horse in the highest, and other Eastern breeds in an inferior, degree, possess a firmness of anatomical organization unequalled except by the English thorough bred horse. The nature and character of the horse of the desert particularly adapted him to produce an animal which, as in the case of the race horse, is called upon to put its physical powers to the severest trial to which nature, aided by art, can submit. These advantages, which he derives from climate, and the great care exercised in breeding and rearing him by

his Arab master, arise from the possession of larger muscles and smaller bones than any other horses; muscles and sinews constituting the powers of action; and on these depend the lasting qualities of an animal going at the top of his speed. Bones, being the weight to be lifted, serve only to extend the parts; and it is obvious that such as are small, but highly condensed, like those of the deer and the Arabian horse, are, by occupying less space, and containing less weight, more easily acted upon by muscular force than such as are large and porous, and for a greater duration of time, without fatiguing the active powers.

But the excellence of the horse of the desert does not end with his highly condensed bone and flat and wiry leg, so much valued by real judges. On reference to the works of eminent writers on the anatomy of the horse, we find all the muscles, and fibres, and sinews of his frame described as driven into closer contact than those of any other breed; always excepting our own thorough bred horse; and from the membranes and ligaments being composed of a firmer and thinner substance, he possesses the rare union of strength with lightness, so essential to the endurance of fatigue in all quick motions; and when to these qualifications are added the

VOL. I.

E

peculiar and deer-like elegance of his form, the broad squareness of, forehead, the short fine muzzle, the prominent and brilliant eye, the small ear, and the beautiful course of the veins, he appears to furnish all the requisites of a race horse.

The pure Arabians are smaller than our race horses, seldom exceeding fourteen hands two inches in height, and are never known, in tropical countries, to turn roarers or to have curbs.

Count Rzeiousky gives the following account of the docility and sagacity of the kohlan, or first class of Arabian breed of horses, translated by an English writer, and which we give, as being