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PART 2

THE ARABIAN HORSE.

CHAPTER I.

THE ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE ARABIAN.

Different opinions as to his origin-Probable early history discussed— Views against his being originally located in Arabia - Objections answered-No lack of horses in Arabia during the time of Mohammed -Held in great estimation very shortly after his death-The horse taken into Africa at an early date-Indication of the horse being in Arabia before he is mentioned as being in Egypt-Times and country of Job discussed-The horse always ridden in Arabia—The unchanging character of the Arabs, the probable means of the horse having been kept in a pure state-The horse created good: the original not improved upon-The Persian horse probably owed his improvement to Arab blood-Short dissertation on Jonadab: his occupation-The Rechabites, Midianites, and Ishmaelites-The horse likely to become degenerate in Egypt.

The silver Arab with his purple veins,
The true blood royal of his race. - Yule.

As to the origin and antiquity of the Arabian different opinions exist. Some imagine the Arabian horse to be an improved specimen of the species, bred up from the original race, which has been presumed was of a very poor and sorry description, and only of com

paratively recent date a native of Arabia; others believe him to have been originally located and domesticated in Arabia. I may say at once I entertain the latter opinion, and believe him to be the sole pure representative of the species.

I will give a short sketch of his probable early history, and then bring forward such matter as may bear upon the subject, in proof and support.

When the horse made his exit from the Ark with the other animals saved alive from the Flood, B.C. 2349-48, I do not mean to insist he immediately made his way into Central Arabia, and was found there by those who first inhabited that country, although such a supposition is very far from improbable. The same law of nature that dictates to him and every animal what is best for them-the fine instinct which he has received from his Creator, and which enables him to find his nearest way home, or if cast adrift at sea, at once to turn his head to the nearest land, might as easily have directed him to Arabia, the soil and climate of which are peculiarly adapted to him and the retention of his primal characteristics.

It may be supposed rather, that he would follow the saved inhabitants of the world, or be taken by them to the plains of Shinar; and when, rather more than a hundred years after the Flood-during which time he would have increased and multiplied-the Tower of Babel being in course of erection, the work was suddenly stopped by the confusion of tongues, and the families of Noah dispersed to seek localities for them

selves, that he would be settled and domesticated with some of these families.

When Nimrod was founding Babylon he may have retained some for his future kingdom; and Misraim may have carried the horse into Egypt; and why not with equal probability that family which went into Central Arabia, and first peopled it? Why should the horse be denied to that country, the most propitious to him, and where, at the present time, he is found in the purest form, to a people of the highest antiquity?

Eber, the great-grandson of Shem, had two sons, Joktan (or Kahtan as spelt in Arabia) and Peleg; the latter, the founder of Abraham's family, and subsequently through Abraham's son Ishmael became joined with the descendants of Joktan. 'In the days of Peleg the earth was divided,' or, as I understand, the dispersion took place at Babel. Joktan and his family went down into Central Arabia, about the time Nimrod was founding Babylon, or perhaps before. They must have been, as their descendants are now, horse-fanciers. The horse was ridden in Arabia; he was not put to degrading work; he was a hunter and a war horse. The horse was ridden only in Arabia, not used for harness, as subsequently by other nations. Joktan and his family were settled in that part of Arabia even now called Kahtan, and to whose inhabitants the term Ketanic is still applied, reaching from near Mecca in the west to Jebel Toweek in the east.

It was from this district, in all probability, that the descendants of Joktan, if not at war among themselves,

made frequent raids upon their northern neighbours; and among them the Sabæans, mounted upon their matchless coursers, performed a true Arab feat, making a swoop upon Job's peaceful possessions, carrying off his cattle, and killing his servants with the edge of the sword. When war was not the order of the day, the chase occupied their time, either for pastime or in quest of food, and when the ostrich was the game, to try the speed and endurance of their horses. Thus would pass many generations; but at an early period the horse was taken from Arabia into Africa, and founded the breed known as the horses of Sahara. Since, both before and after the time of Mohammed, importations of Arabian horses into Africa have taken place.

At a later period the Arabian horse became more generally known, and played a very conspicuous part. When, after the death of Mohammed, Arabia had become the centre of an empire second to none in extent, he was taken out into all lands, east, north, and west-into Europe, Africa, and other parts of Asia, and left his mark upon the degenerated and changed breeds of other countries through which he passed; and at this day, according to the amount of Arab blood to be found in the modern horse, in any part of the world, is he valuable.

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Scripture tells us that Joktan had thirteen sons, one of whom was named Sheba, and their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar, a mount of the East.'

Mecca in the Hejaz, allowed to be one of the most

ancient cities, is supposed to be identical with the Mesha of Scripture (of this there can be little doubt), but some have objected to Central Arabia as being the territory occupied by Joktan, as they know of no 'mount' in the East. A glance at the map appended to Mr. Palgrave's book of travel through Central Arabia will dispel such doubts at once.

It will be seen that between Mecca and Jebel Toweekwhich latter is, strictly speaking, Nejed Proper-lies the district called Kahtan. Jebel Toweek literally means, we are told, a little twist or garland of mountains, which would answer to the description 'a mount of the East.' At the foot of the collection of little mounts, at the northern extremity, but still east from Mecca, is a town now called Zulphar, which, I think, might well be the Sephar of Scripture, the western boundary of Joktan's dominion. From profane history we learn that Joktan, the father of the ancient Arabs, had thirty-one sons, and that he first wore the diadem in Yemen. He was succeeded by Yarab, Yarab by his son Yashab, and Yashab by Abd-Shems, who was a great and successful monarch. He built the city of Saba, and formed vast reservoirs above the city to supply the inhabitants and surrounding lands with water. Abd-Shems was succeeded by his son Hamyar, so called from his wearing red clothes, and he gave his name to a tribe. He was succeeded by a line of seventeen kings, from one of whom, named Africus, the continent of Africa derived its name. It is believed the Queen of Sheba followed this line of seventeen kings.

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