SCHAIGIE8. 201 mostly pistols, and the leader a sabre. Firearms are, indeed, the best and most efficacious -weapons here in Bellad-Sudan, as the blacks do not possess such, and liave a great dread of them ; and on their part generally fight by casting lances and stones from a distance, out of their rocks and forests, as swords are not common among them. The Turkish cavalry certainly cut the best figure from their handsome and swift horses, but could not in dexterity and active movement compare Avith the Schaigies, Avho are, however, at present ill-mounted, as the formerly highly-famed Dongola breed of horses, somewhat similar to the Holstein, have been much decreased by the doings of the Turks, especially by those of Ismail Pascha and Defterdar Bey. Better soldiers than the Schaigies could not be found for these lands. They are the real fighting caste of the country, born and brought up here, and from their youth practised to war ; able to bear the greatest fotigues and privations with endurance and indifierence. They are closely acquainted with the capabilities, manners, and customs of these lands ; and this knowledge enables them to inflict severe injury on their foes. With savage courage they steal into the very heart of the enemy's country, and never return empty-handed. They also were the only indwellers of all Nubia up to Beni Schangull who ventured to meet Ismail Pascha in open battle, and were only defeated by the overpowering force of firearms. They then possessed no firearms, but the straight double-edged sword, lance, and shield were their weapons, and the larger number of them had iron chain armour and helmets ; but these, on adopting firearms, they have cast aside as useless. The most of them are mounted on horseback, or on camels ; those on foot are only armed with the lance. Their horses were famed far and near, but only among their leaders are many of the old breed to be found.

Burckhardt, who saw the Schaigies in their own land, believed that their breed had originated in a cross between their country horses and the Arabian. But this is not well-founded ; tliey much more resemble our German horses, and have even as little Arab blood in them as these. In general, they are large and long-bodied, with strong thick tails, which they mostly carry ill. and coarse thick manes ; the neck is long, and always a evreneck, and the ever somewhat thick head, always ill set on it ; in