In all times, among the Arabs, the horse has been the object of the greatest solicitude, and this solicitude the Prophet lost no opportunity of keeping up, developing and augmenting by introducing the religious sentiment. We find in the collection of his conversations the following precepts: "Happiness in this world, a rich booty, and eternal rewards are attached to the forelock of horses." "Evil spirits enter not into a tent where there is a thoroughbred horse." "The Angels sympathise with only the three following pastimes of men: the exercises of war—the joys of connubial love—and the running of horses." "Whensoever any one is prevented from fulfilling his religious duties, let him keep a horse for the sake of Allah, and all his sins shall be forgiven him." "Whoso maintaineth a horse for the triumph of religion makes a magnificent loan to Allah." "The horse, sincerely reared in the way of Allah, for the holy war, shall save his master from the fire at the day of the resurrection." "Whoso maketh sacrifices in order to train a horse for the holy war shall be treated in the next world as a martyr." "Whoso traineth a horse in the way of Allah is counted in the number of those who give alms day and night, in secret or in public. He shall have his reward. Never shall fear dishonour his heart." "Money spent upon horses passes in the eyes of Allah for alms given in a direct manner." "Whoso keepeth and tendeth a horse for the service of Allah shall be recompensed as one who fasts during the day and passes the night in prayer." "Horses pray to Allah to make them beloved by their masters." "Allah comes to the aid of such as occupy themselves with horses, and lightens the expenses incurred on their account." "Every grain of barley given to a horse is inscribed by Allah in the Register of good Works." "Martyrs of the holy war will find in Paradise horses of rubies, furnished with wings, which shall fly whithersoever their riders desire." BREEDS. The tribes that inhabit the Sahara have always been better able than those of the Tell to withdraw from the caprice, oppression, and spoliation of the various conquerors of Africa. It is therefore evidently among them that the Barb has had the best chance of preserving all the qualities of grace, speed, and sobriety, that are universally regarded as its characteristics. We shall consequently confine ourselves exclusively to the horses of that region, and with a view to avoid a repetition of what every one has read in books, we shall allow the many Arabs we have interrogated, to speak for themselves. Here, then, is the outline they have drawn of the thoroughbred horse, _shareb-er-rehh_, "the air-drinker:"