Kohol[51] embellishes the bearer of babes, A tribe embellishes a defile, And the saddle embellishes horses. During my residence in Africa, I have seen so many horses that it was impossible to dispose of when girt with an English saddle, bought up with avidity when caparisoned with an Arab one, that I am much inclined to adopt the native prejudice. Many a time also I have observed that when an Arab, who had purchased a horse from an European, had covered its back with his own saddle, the vendor was seized with regret, being struck with a beauty he had never before noticed. It is true, the only extravagance indulged in by the Arabs is in their harness; for the Prophet, while proscribing the use of gold in their garments, authorised and even enjoined it, in respect of arms and horses. He said: "Whoso fears not to spend money on the maintenance of horses for the holy war, shall be considered, after his death, as the equal of him who has always been open-handed." It is therefore no uncommon sight to see, even in these times of trouble and misery, an Arab chief treat himself to a saddle worth from £80 to £120, and on days of feasting or on solemn occasions, cover the croup of his horse with _shelil_, a silken stuff of brilliant hues. MAXIMS OF THE ARAB CAVALIER. When thou mountest a horse, first pronounce these words: _Bi es-sem Allah_, "in the name of Allah." The grave of the horseman is always open. The cavalier of Truth should eat little, and, above all, drink little. If he cannot endure thirst, he will never make a warrior—he is nothing but a frog of the marshes. Purchase a good horse. If thou pursuest, thou attainest: if thou art pursued, the eye presently knoweth not where thou hast passed. Prefer a horse from the mountain to a horse from the plain, and the latter to one from the marshland, which is only fit to carry the pack-saddle. For the combat mount a horse with a trailing tail [that is, one at least eight years old]. In the day when the horsemen shall be so crowded together that the stirrups knock against one another, he will save thee from the thick of the fight and bear thee back to thy tent, though he were pierced by a ball. When thou hast purchased a horse, study him carefully, and give him barley more and more every day until thou hast ascertained the quantity demanded by his appetite. A good horseman ought to know the measure of barley suited to his horse, as exactly as the measure of powder suited to his gun. Suffer neither dogs nor donkeys to lie down upon the straw or barley you intend to give to your horses. The Prophet has said: "Every grain of barley given to your horses shall secure you an indulgence in the other world."