202 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

in the breast and coupling they are generally weaker than Arab horses ; the back, too, is much more hollowed, the croup sloping more, and the continuation of the backbone not so perfect as in the Ai'ab breed. They are generally rather lean, and can go a good pace, but not with the same powers of continuance as the true Arabs or the cross with the Syrian horse.

These two last-mentioned breeds are rather short than long bodied, and never over the middle height ; from the shoulder to the end of the 'backbone is an almost straight line, and this may be the reason they always carry a good tail, as this is nothing but the finish off of the stronger backbone. The tail is docked by the Arabs, but not so short as in England, nor is it ever set or nicked, nor is the hair of the tail so neatly trimmed and arranged. They have very fine bone, and broad chests, and stand wide behind. Below the neck is broad and thick, but runs up small and thin towards the head, so that with the small well-set head and bright ever-observing eye, and open nostrils, it is a fair sight. They never carry the neck arched, but it stands at somewhere about an angle of 130° with the backbone, and the head at one of 90° with the neck ; hence its motions are free and unconstrained. When tied up this is not done by the head, but by the foot ; either one hind foot only, or one hind and one fore, being picquetted to a peg driven into the ground. To make them more strong and lasting, the Arabs give them honey mixed with meal or dried fiesh ; and certainly they will hold out and undergo much fatigue for two or even three days without water or food. In general, all horses here are given water once a day and food twice, generally durra, which they eat from a nosebag.

On the march, as at home and every where, the Turkish horses must be saddled day and night, as Mahomet ordered that man and horse should ever be ready for tlie field. Their saddles are very high before and behind, the stirrups, as also those of the lograbins, are large iron plates, on which the whole foot rests. The Arabs here, and the Schaigies, have stirrups like Europeans, in which, as they Avear sandals, and often have their feet altogether bare, they only stick the great toes ; at times one sees attached to the stirrups a spur an incli long. On their small wooden saddles there is only allowed a place for the drinking-vessel ; but