202 AFRICAN WANDEKINGS, 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 tho Arab breed. They are generally rather lean, and can go a good pace, but not with the same powers of continuance as the true Ai'abs 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 ahvays carry a good ta,il, 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 over-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 flesh ; 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 sliould ever be ready for the field. Their saddles arc very high before and behind, the stirrups, as also those of the Mograbins, are large iron plates, on which the whole foot rests. The Arabs here, and the Schaigies, have stirrups like Europeans, in which, as they wear sandals, and often have their feet altogether bare, they only stick tlie great toes ; at times one sees attached to the stirrups a spur an inch long. On their small wooden saddles there is only allowed a place for the drinking-vessel ; but