to the assault. In small towns and villages seldom visited by strangers, the dogs know the inhabitants and do not molest them, unless, perhaps, when any one of them should happen to stir abroad at night; but a stranger of any description often dares not approach such places even by day, unless under the conduct of an inhabitant. When the attempt is made, the dogs afford every demonstration of a disposition to tear him in pieces; and we ourselves, when halting on a journey near such places, observed powerful and resolute men, natives of the country, abandon attempts to enter, in consequence of the opposition which the fierce and savage dogs offered, and would wait till the protection of an inhabitant could be obtained. These last observations apply also to the encampments of Arabs and other nomades, who allow the presence of dogs on account of the assistance they give in managing the flocks and in protecting the encampment; for the dogs of the East are unanimous in their hatred to strangers, and in resisting their approach. These dogs are, however, nearly as much neglected as those in towns, and are by no means to be put on a level with the shepherd

dogs of Europe. When the party with which they are connected happens to be of those who assemble in villages during winter, the dogs maintain the connection, and guard the village from intrusion as zealously as they did the camp; and it is to such villages chiefly that the above observations apply; for in other villages and small places, dogs are not very common."

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CHAPTER II.

DOMESTICATED ANIMALS CONTINUED.

THE HORSE THE GOAT-THE MULE-THE SHEEP.

THE HORSE.

THIS animal, the most noble and useful which has been brought under the subjection of man, is supposed to be a native of the East. In the deserts of Tartary, as well as in other parts of the world, are to be found immense herds in a state of wildness; but there is every reason to believe, that they are descended from domesticated animals which have escaped from the influence of man, and that in no place does it now exist in a state of nature. They associate in herds, and on the appearance of danger crowd together, placing the young and the feeble in the rear, and thus either await the attack of their enemy, using their heels with so much effect as to destroy it, or make them

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selves a bold assault upon it, and trample it to death.

As the horse is first mentioned in scripture in connexion with Egypt, it is natural to suppose that the Egyptians were the earliest to avail themselves of its services. When the money of the people failed during the years of scarcity, in which Joseph wisely administered the affairs of that kingdom, the inhabitants came to him, still demanding bread, and he directed them to bring their cattle in exchange; "and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses" (Gen. xlvii. 17): And when the aged patriarch Jacob "was gathered unto his people," and his body was transported with all due honour to Canaan for burial by his affectionate son, "there went up with him both chariots and horsemen a very great company" (1. 9).

In the earlier ages horses were very rare among the Hebrews. In the time of the patriarchs there was none, and after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, their multiplication was expressly forbidden (Deut. xvii. 16). At a later period

in the time of the judges-the Israelites were still without horses, though the Canaanites had cavalry and war-chariots. Even in the reign of David we find him destroying nearly the whole of the chariot horses which he took from Hadadezer, king of Zobah, reserving only "of them for an hundred chariots." (2 Sam. viii. 4.) Solomon was the first among the kings of Israel who established a cavalry force: "He gathered together chariots and horsemen; and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen" (1 Kings, x. 26).

Among the Egyptians the horse seems to have been trained to war at a very remote period. When the Israelites were delivered from their yoke, they were pursued by "all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh and his horsemen and his army," which were swallowed up in the Red Sea. This overthrow, however, did not prevent them from again raising a numerous and well-appointed body of cavalry. In the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam, the king of Egypt, he invaded Canaan with one thousand two hundred chariots and threescore thousand horsemen." That the forces of the

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