ARABIAN HORSES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XIX, 30 October 1897, Page 607

ARABIAN HORSES.

Nowhere else in live world is tie horse 7—g--g ; :'.c. .gr'e -o'-.e .-."0.-t'.'C.rrZe eoutideratson as in the East. There is an Arabian story, which is said to le true, let vi which unfortunately tio real proof exists. a poor sheik w ho-e entire worldly :«vssessions o.c.siste-1 of a magnificent horse. He had refused many ••tfer- nw it. for he eouM not l-ring himself to part with tire creature he loved. At last a rich sheik, who had long coveted the other's horse, swept down upon the j«»-r sheik - village, and bore him awl the horse away captive. The party camped late that night in the desert, and. worn out by tbeir long ride, al! were — *«i asleep. Then the !wr-e. who had s»mehow rggiaged to free : •-> .- - - - carefully over the -leepere. -o a- not to waken them, to the tent where tire captive sireik lay securely bound. The ln-ree tried for a long time to unfasten the cords that i>wind his master and to help him t--m-xtnt. ixtt finding isini-elf un.~ucecssful took hi- master's belt in his teeth, liftevl him up- and picking his way through the camp without waking a single man. he ran at full -peed one hundred miles. . — master all tire way. until he came to hi- >*n village, and depositing hiImrvien in front of the tent, lire faithful animal tel! over-lead. Another Arabian -lory which illustrates the tore ••:' tire Arab for his luor-e i- that of a sheik w ire owned a rare horse, and was nin>'h eu> red on that arx-wunt- A neighlouring sireik -ent to a-k him his pri-e. lot the annvunt lie named wae » high that the would-le ;sir>-ha-er visited the owner in person, thinking that ire could make a letter bargain than id- representative After ninrli haggling he agreed to jay the price demanded : lot the- other saggre-ted tliat before tire tran-action wa- complete it might le well for him to -!»» the [a. vof hi- -texsl. The visiting sheik omented, and the owner tireunted and -ailed al*-ut the desert like the wind. Coming lock ami olsrerxing hi- vi»itor- evident delight at the pertonuam-e of id- le-r-e, he promptly .bolded i.;- price. A long argument followed : at la-t the v-idt.-r agreed to pay the in.-rea-ed amount ; tire o» ner «>nre nvw>- pn-.-vi.-! to drew '.tf hi- animal, and again dirilded

hi- price. Tli-- was r*-peate*l until the ri-itair bad agreed to par ter. times the suai < rtginally asked, ami then the owner, ’.agghirg- derisive! v. said there wa- n-< gold enough in tire country to loy • hzese. ami rode away . A few -lays later he met a lame leggar bx the nod-ide. w ire demarsied aims. - I ran give you nothing, for 1 have aangh: in the v«H besides thi~ horse," replied th--sheik. Drereopon the beggar tcJd him -4 taie.-f mbery : h—w hi- rwxher lardy-g--in the next village, that be had travelled far. xml that hi- oulv wish was to Ire y her -ide fefore the end. and he begged r a lift on the road. Tire -lieik disrmonted. are! after infinite dithcuitv -m-v-eeded in getting tire leggar rm-unted. intending t walk along-i-le xn-i lead the horre. B-.t no -ewerer did the beggar find him-eh' on the bee'- luck than his laruetre—- . - . . ._ . ... mg hi- nefehlsvur who Lad vainly endritvuured to buy the Irer-e ride rapidly • Stop !' he slreutevL ’ I have one thing to say Ire-ore you The other drew rein and listened ■ You have my bor-e.’ continued the sheik. - all that I had in lire pray you never to tel! anyone how you ■ -ante to ;,s.— — him. for if you io n-v one ■ ■. '»■_ _ -- - l ie :-, hearing these words the .-tber role ire's- : i . s.. ;. Mu - . - -- your bor-e. that i- a price at w h I M rake him.* am! went away.