SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE HORSE

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 7, 29 March 1849, Page 4

SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE HORSE

(Continued from our last.) In the last paper I mentioned that, by the Testimony of the Bible and concurrent history, Egypt appears to have been the country in

. which the liurs* w,n first used, and from ( which tlie breed of horse 9 gradually spread t over the greater part of the world. Arabia, a land to the fast of Egypt, I also made mention of; and described how tho horses of that country were very swift, and [ much loved by their owners. Now, to mnny countries beyond Arabia, from E»ypt, the horse has been taken j and the difference of climate in these several countries, together with the various kinds of fund which have been given to him, have caused him to alter in his shape, and vary much in his size. In cool countries, where grass and corn have been abundant, the horses have increased very much in weight and height ; while in mountainous and very cold countries, where the grass is of a stunted growth, and grain so scarce as never to be given to it, the horse has so decreased in size us O appear a different animal ; and the pnncy, as it i-i called, although very stlong and hardy, is not above hnlf the size of the common horse, from which it appears to have descended. I mention this to show the necessity of treating the horse well, and of supplying it with plenty of food; for without these there is no doubt that the hor«e becomes smaller and weaker. A gentleman, in England, not many years ago, hod a mare which nlwnvs brought forth very large foals ; before, it grew old he sold it, mid the foals which it afterwards bore were as much smaller than the common size as the former bad been above it. The gentleman by whom she wns first owned was surprised at this, but upon his going to the place where the mare was kept, he found that, from the sterility of tho country there was scarcely any grass for her to eat, and that the water was also bad. lie then knew the cause of the latter foals being so small. The horses which existed in England about a hundred years since were lare,e mid strong animals, but wanting in swiftness; they were something similar in appearance to the carthorse of the present time. It wns thought, however, that by bringing some Arabian horses to England, that the breed which would he obtained from these nnd some of the best of the English mares, would be much faster than the old description of horses. These horses having, been brought to England, the breed which resulted from them became very useful : the horse for riding was much more swift than the heavy cart-horse, slept faster, and from its greater spirit required less urging than those which had preceded it. Thus you will perceive that it was not without thought and attention that the English people became possessed of Ihc fast racehorse of the present tima, or of the useful, hard-working, plmmhing, and cart horse. • The natives of New Zealand are now possessed of a great many horses, and are still acquiring more. There are but few things in which theii money could bo more usefully expended, lint one thing should be reniem- , bered by them—that it is not tho light fust horse which is most fitting for them In buy, but one sufficiently strong to draw a cart, or to carry a heavy pack along the rough bush road, but which docs not evince any .slowness ! of action, or laziness of temper. A period of several years may probably elapse before the natives will have ronda sufficiently well made for the transit of a cart ' between, their settlements, but in the mean lime much of their produce might be carried ' short distances on the backs of horses. From ' the cultivation, to the canoe at the river's ' bank, wheat or maize might be carried ; and ' flax also, which cannot always be dressed in '• places from which there is the means of im- ' mediate water transit. ' In some countries of Europe—countries ' which,like New Zealand,are of a very hilly and ' rugged character, and where the roads are not i all sufficiently smooth and level for the passage : of carts —a great number of horses are used ' for carrying the produce of the country places < to the towns. As many as ten horses are ' tied to each other, and with heavy loads of : from two to three hundred pounds in weight, ' they cross the mountains of the country, from < town to town. They are tied in this manner : 1 a strap or a cord passes from the girth, or i strap which secures the pack of the headmost ' horse to the head of the second, and again from his giith to the head of the third, and so ' on. The oldest or quietest horse is placed '■ foremost, and the less obedient in the renr, where they are not only encouraged to go on : by the example of those a head, but actually dragged forward should they be sluggish or lazy. Only one man is required to lead these horses, unless the rood be very rugged and steep, when another man usually accompanies them, in order to he ready to readjust the packs should they become displaced by the jolting of the horses. In Ibis way much flour is carried, as also wine, and Iruit, and cheese.

I Muorics who have horses should tnko great care of them, and be particular in keeping them clean. I To be continued in our next.