The horse with the white hind-feet, His master will never be ruined. It is the same with white forefeet—his master's face will never turn yellow. Never buy a horse with a white face and four stockings, for he carries his winding-sheet with him. The prejudices of the Arabs on the subject of white spots are summed up in the following little story: "An Arab had a blood mare. There was a dispute beforehand as to what her foal would be. So when she was on the point of foaling he invited all his friends to be present. The head first of all came in sight—it bore a star. The Arab rejoiced. His horse would one day, outstrip the dawn, for he had the mark on his forehead. Next appeared the near forefoot, when the owner in ecstasy demanded one hundred _douros_ for the foal. The off forefoot then showed itself with a stocking, and the price was reduced to fifty douros. After that came the near hindfoot. It also had a stocking, and the Arab overjoyed, swore that he would not part with his foal for the whole world. But lo! the fourth foot presents itself likewise with a stocking, when the dweller in the Sahara cast the animal out, in his fury, on the refuse-heap, unable to bring himself to keep such a brute." A horse has forty white _Tufts_, of which twenty eight are generally considered as being of neither good nor bad omen, while to the remaining twelve a certain influence is attributed. It is agreed on all hands to regard six of these as augmenting riches and bringing good fortune, and the other six as causing ruin and adversity. The tufts of good omen are: The tuft that is between the two ears, _nekhlet el aâdar_, "the tuft of the head stall": such a horse is swift in the race. The tuft that grows on the lateral surface of the neck, _sebâa enneby_, "the finger of the Prophet": the owner will die like a good Mussulman in his bed. The tuft of the Sultan, _nekhlet essoultan_. It runs along the whole length of the neck, following the tracheal artery: love, riches, and prosperity. The horse that bear this offers up three prayers every day: "Allah grant that my master may look upon me as the most precious possession he has in the world!" "May Allah give unto him a happy lot, so that mine may benefit by it!" "May Allah grant unto him the happiness of dying a martyr upon my back!" The tuft on the chest, _zeradya_, fills the tent with plunder. The tuft where the saddle-girths pass, _nekhlet el hazame_ multiplies the flocks. The tuft on the flank, _nekhlet eshebour_, "the tuft of the spurs." If it is turned towards the back, it preserves the rider from misadventure in war: if it is turned towards the belly, it is a sign of riches for its master. The following white tufts bring misfortune: _Netahyat_, a tuft over the eyebrows: the master will die, shot through the head.