Part 2

(THE ONLY AUTHORISED TRANSLATION)

LONDON: WM. H. ALLEN & CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W.

1863.

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.

In this English version of General Daumas' justly eulogised work on the Horses of the Sahara and the Manners of the Desert, two or three entire chapters, besides many isolated passages, have been omitted, which treated either of veterinary science or of matters little suited to the taste of general readers in this country. Part the second, which was so strangely overlooked by the critics of the last French edition, will be found extremely interesting to all who love the chace and can appreciate a life of adventure. The description of the sports and pastimes, the manners and customs of the aristocracy of the African Desert, is especially worthy of perusal; nor will the quaint remarks of the once famous Emir Abd-el-Kader fail to command very general respect and sympathy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PART THE FIRST.

THE HORSES OF THE SAHARA.

INTRODUCTION 3

Sources of information.

Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader 5

Treatises on the horse.—Anecdote of Abou-Obeïda.

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE ARAB HORSE 7

Curious letter from the Emir Abd-el-Kader.—Four great epochs.—Creation of the horse.—Change of coats.—Moral qualities of the thoroughbred.

THE BARB 26

Oneness of the race.—Letter from Abd-el-Kader.—Letter from M. Lesseps on the Alexandria races.—Weight carried by African horses.

THE HORSES OF THE SAHARA 33

Traditional love of the horse.—Arab proverbs.—A popular chaunt.

Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader 44

Superiority of the horses of the Sahara.

BREEDS 47

Incontestable purity of the Saharene Barb.—Endurance of the Arab horse.—The noble horse.

Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader 59

Two varieties of the horse.

THE SIRE AND THE DAM 65

Treatment of the mare and foal.

Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader 73

Influence of the sire.—Purity of race.