'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎586] (677/905)

586
KINE.
[CHAP. XXII.
The breeds of great fatigue, 1 belongs to the province of El Ah'sa; the other,
horses various, jg larger, is from Yemen, or more properly Nedjd, and
is most valued. Of the choice breeds there are many branches;
there are besides, other breeds, which are considered secondary,
and every mare of noble blood, if particularly swift and hand
some, may give rise to a new stock. The catalogue of distinct
breeds in the desert is therefore almost endless, and the pedi
grees of individuals are verified by certificates which are handed
down from father to son with infinite care, and not unfre-
quently they belong to more than one family, for there is
often a co-partnership in mares, and hence arises the difficulties
attending the purchase of one. It is, however, certain that
the Arab horses deteriorate when taken elsewhere, although
both sire and dam may be of first-rate breeds ; by the latter,
and not the former, as with us, the Arabs trace the blood.
The prevailing colours are a clear bay, sorrel, white, chestnut,
gray, brown, and black ; but the number of horses in Arabia,
is comparatively few ; 2 their places, for almost every purpose in
life, being supplied by camels.
Buffaios. Next to the latter, in point of number, are the buffalos,
which are to be found in most places where water is abundant;
their milk is rich and tolerably good, although inferior to that
of the goat or cow.
Bulls and cows take the next place to the buffalo, and like
those of India, they have humps, and are of small size; some
bullocks purchased at Suweidiyeh, produced each, only about
224 lbs. of meat.
The ass. Besides the preceding animals, the country possesses asses
and mules, both of large size; the former are often white,
and are prized on this account, as well as for their speed and
easy paces. The ass is probably the original animal of its
kind in the country, for it is first mentioned in connexion with
this part of the world, 3 and it was afterwards considered as a
royal animal.
1 On one occasion the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. rode upwards of 1000 miles upon a small
Arab horse. The animal had a good feed of barley at the halting-place every
night, and he completed the journey in perfect condition.
2 The writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. has seen a large tribe with only two or three horses, and at
times without any. 3 Gen., ch. XII., v. 16; Exodus, ch. IV., v. 20.