The Horses of the Sahara 25

The Horses of the Sahara 25

As with them the horse is constantly fastened by hobbles, the Arabs do

not understand the value of the halter which we employ. They replace it

by a _goulada_, a thick cord of silk or camel's hair, of a more or less

lively colour according to the coat of the animal. It is passed round

the neck, and from it are suspended small morocco sachets, inclosing

talismans that have the virtue of preserving from the evil eye, of

averting sickness, and of bringing success in war. This _goulada_ is, in

the first place, an ornament, and, besides, it serves to hold the horse

by, when required. To take him by the forelock to hold or lead him, as

we do, is to dishonour him; for the Prophet has said: "The good things

of this world to the day of the last judgment shall be suspended from

the hairs that are between the eyes of your horses."

 

The Arabs of the Sahara make use of a whip to correct a horse when they

are breaking him in, or to excite him in war or at the chace. It is

composed of five or six twisted leather thongs, attached to a ring fixed

to a bar of iron six or seven inches long, terminating in another ring.

To the latter is fastened the small leather thong that is slipped over

the wrist. Round the iron rod, but shorter by an inch, is a hollow

cylinder, also of iron, of a diameter that allows the rod to play easily

within it. The whip is used with all their might. It punishes so

severely that after a time it suffices to shake it in order to make the

animal dash forward at full speed—the noise made by the cylinder coming

in contact either with the rings or with the bar that connects them,

recalling to his memory the nearly similar sound of the _tekerbeâa_.

 

In the desert the Arabs carry from the _kerbouss_ of the saddle a club a

cubit in length, and terminating in a large knob garnished with spikes.

It is hung from the wrist by a leather thong. Some replace this by a

longer club terminating in a hook, for the purpose of picking up booty

from off the ground, without alighting from the saddle. The latter is

called _el aâraya_, or the despoiler. Neither the Arbâ nor the Harrars

would ever mount on horseback without one of these clubs.

 

The spurs have only one spike, and are clumsy, solid, and long. They are

kept in their place by a simple leather strap crossed, and are attached

very loosely.

 

Every Arab carries as a complement of his equipment, suspended from the

_kerbouss_ of his saddle, a kind of sabretache called _djebira_ or

_guerab_. It contains several compartments, for the purpose of carrying

bread, biscuit, a mirror, soap, cartridges, shoes, a flint, writing

materials, etc., etc., according to the calling of the owner. Some

_djebiras_ are extraordinary rich. I am convinced that the sabretaches

of our Hussars must have come to us from the East. The common people on

an expedition carry also suspended from the troussequin of their saddle

a kind of wallet, which they call _semmâte_. They are shorter than ours,

so as not to irritate the animal's flanks.

 

With the exception of the great chiefs, the Arabs have no holsters to

their saddles. They carry their pistols in their girdles, or in a

heart-shaped case that rests on the left side, and is held in its place

by a leather strap over the shoulder and another round the body. They

prefer this latter mode, because they are sure of having them on their

person if they chance to be separated from their horse.

 

Those who do not put a throat-band to their bridle generally adorn their

horses with boar's tusks or lion's teeth, or with talismans which they

attach to their necks by means of silk or woollen cords.

 

To our taste, the less covered a thoroughbred horse may be, the better

are the beauty and elegance of his form displayed. The Arabs think

differently. They say:

 

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."

 

Give barley to your horses; deprive yourself to give them still more;

for Sidi-Hamed-ben-Youssouf has remarked; "Had I not seen the mare

produce the foal, I should have said it was the barley." He has also

said: "Superior to spurs there is nothing but barley."

 

Do not water your horses more than once a day, at one or two in the

afternoon; and give barley only in the evening, at sunset. It is a good

practice in wartime, and, besides, it is the way to make their flesh

firm and hard.

 

To train a horse that is too fat for the fatigues of war, reduce him by

exercise, but never by lowering his keep.

 

So long as your horse, when at work, sweats over his whole body, you may

say that he is not in good wind. But you may count upon him as soon as

he sweats only on the ears and chest.

 

Leave not thy horse near others that are eating barley, without he has

some likewise, for otherwise he will fall ill.

 

Never water your horse after having given him barley. It would be the

death of the animal.

 

Never give water to a horse after a rapid gallop, for here is danger of

checked perspiration.

 

After a rapid gallop, water him with the bridle on, and feed him with

the saddle-girth on, and thou wilt not repent of it.

 

Be clean, and perform your ablutions before mounting your horse, and the

Prophet will love you.

 

Whoso is guilty of an impropriety on the back of his horse is not worthy

to own him. Moreover, he will suffer for it, for his horse will do

himself a hurt.

 

Never fall asleep upon thy horse. The sleep of the rider wounds or

wearies the animal.

 

When you put a horse to his speed, husband his strength for the time of

need. He must be treated like a goat-skin water-bag, which if you open

gradually, keeping the neck nearly closed, you will easily preserve the

water. But if you open it hastily, the water will rush out all at once,

and not a drop will remain to quench your thirst.

 

A horseman should never urge his horse to full speed, while going up or

down hill, unless he is forced to do so. He ought, on the contrary, to

hold him in.

 

"Which dost thou prefer?" the horse was asked one day, "The getting on,

or the getting off thy back?" And he made answer: "Allah curse the point

where they meet!"

 

When you have a long journey to accomplish, relieve your horse by

changing his pace, to enable him to recover his wind. Repeat this until

he has sweated and dried three times, then shift his girth, and

afterwards do what you will with him. He will never fail you in a

difficulty.

 

If, on a march, you have a strong wind right in your teeth, contrive if

possible to save your horse from facing it—you will spare him various

diseases.

 

If at the bivouac your horse is so placed that he cannot move out of the

wind that is blowing violently into his nostrils, do not hesitate to

leave the nose-bag suspended from his nose—you will preserve him from

serious mischief.