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.
REARING AND BREAKING-IN [75]
Early training.—Elementary exercises.—Names.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [107]
Names of the Prophet's horses.
DIET [112]
Camel's and ewe's milk.—Dates.—Green food.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [118]
Repose and fat injurious to a horse.
GROOMING, HYGIENE, PROPORTIONS [121]
Selection of food and water.—How to foretell
the size and character of a horse.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [127]
Ingenious measurements.
COATS [130]
Variety of colours.—Anecdote.—White
spots.—Anecdote.—Tufts.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [136]
Favourite coats.—Objectionable coats.
ON CHOOSING AND PURCHASING HORSES [139]
Serious objections.—Mode of sale.—The
Arab horse-dealer.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [148]
Genealogical tables.—Poetic and anecdotic illustrations.
SHOEING [150]
Farriers, their privileges and tools.—Cold shoeing.
THE HARNESS [159]
The Arab saddle.—Advantages of the Arab system.
MAXIMS OF THE ARAB CAVALIER [166]
Temperance.—Endurance.—Making the horse a study.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [171]
Horse-racing among the Arabs.
ABD-EL-KADER ON THE ARAB HORSE [178]
Examples of endurance.—Reasons for early training.—High
price of mares.—Genealogical registers.—Identity of the
Arab and the Barb.—General instructions.—Draught horses.
THE WAR HORSE [185]
His form and qualities.
PART THE SECOND.
THE MANNERS OF THE DESERT.
THE EMIR ABD-EL-KADER ON THE HORSE [189]
The Arab horse derives his character from his Arab master.
THE SAHARA, BY ABD-EL-KADER [191]
A poem of the Emir.
THE RAZZIA [196]
Three kinds of razzia: the Tehha, the Khrotefa,
the Terbigue.—Episodes.—Popular chaunt.—The
combat.—Circumstantial details.
THE KHRIANA, OR THEFT [206]
Horse, camel, and sheep stealing.—Superstitions.—Ludicrous details.
WAR BETWEEN DESERT TRIBES [214]
Motives for hostilities.—Proclamation of war.—Summoning
allies.—Departure.—A war chaunt.—Amorous intrigues.—Thefts.
—Scouts.—Preliminaries of peace.—Saharene diplomacy.—Conclusion of
peace.—Hostilities.—The eve of battle.—Challenges.—War cries.—The
battle.—Defeat.—Victory.—Anecdotes.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el Kader [234]
Lamentations of an Arab warrior.
USAGES OF WAR [236]
Distribution of the plunder.—The chief.—Loan of a
horse.—Female spectators of the battle.—Apologue.—The
marabouts.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [241]
The horse of noble race.—Victors and the vanquished.
OSTRICH HUNTING [243]
On horseback.—Details of the excursion.—From an
ambush.—Habits of the ostrich.—Laying and hatching.
GAZELLE HUNTING [259]
On horseback.—Habits of the gazelle.
THE GREYHOUND [264]
Respect shown to it.—Characteristic details.
HAWKING [270]
Training and rearing.—A hawking expedition.
Remarks by the Emir Abd-el-Kader [272]
Four kinds of falcon.—Training.—Hawking.
THE CHACE, BY ABD-EL-KADER [281]
Varieties of sport.—The gazelle.—The hyæna.—The
panther.—The lion.—Different modes of hunting.
THE CAMEL [305]
Management of the camel.—Diet.—Usefulness.
THE SHEEP [309]
Immense flocks.—Their usefulness in the Sahara.
LIFE IN THE DESERT [313]
The villager.—The master of the tent.—Sobriety.—Runners.
—Inventory of a wealthy Arab's fortune.—His occupations.
—Armourers.—Legislation.—Women's employments.—Hospitality.
—Mendicants.—Sorcerers.—Magic.—Religion.
THE ARAB ARISTOCRACY [329]
The thorny shrub and the date-tree.—The sherifs.—The
marabouts and the djouad.—A great tent.—The
vendetta.—Examples.—Blood money.—Lex talionis.
—Birth, education, and marriage.—Polygamy.—An Arab
interior.—Amusements.—Death and funeral rites.
THE HORSES OF THE SAHARA