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the well known sources of water and wells, near the rural
settlements, where the members of the tribe could sell their
wool, rugs, leather products and locally made objects, or
exchange their commodities with food stuffs.
Camels and cattle represent real necessities for the
life of bedouins, providing them with wool for weaving
carpets, rugs, clothes, tents, saddlebags, bags and hides
from which they make buckets, receptacles, cradles for
babies, and shoes. Horses, on the other hand, represent a
source pf pride and a symbol of success for their owners.
Many tales are narrated about the origin of the famous
Arabian horse, which appeared in the Arabian Peninsula 4
to 5 thousand years ago and was subsequently domesticated.
Some believe that they have come from the Mesopotamia
region, which is known for its abundant wealth. Others
are of the opinion that they have come from Egypt, or that
they were probably acquired during the many invasions to
which the Peninsula was exposed. But all these legends
are not substantiated and are merely transmitted verbally
by the desert population.
As mentioned earlier, there are high-rising mountains
and barren desert in the Najd Plateau. Under such
circumstances, only those animals that can bear great
hardship would survive in such an environment. The dry
climate has contributed to the health and strength of the
swift horses of the region, while the rigorous and niggardly
life has helped in the formation of the physical and delicate
moral characteristics and aristocratic behavior of this
graceful and patient creature (I should not say animal, out
of respect and admiration for this graceful being).
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Arabian horses are associated with a romantic aura
of glory and veneration. This is reflected in Arabic and
Islamic literature, where one finds a description of their
intelligence, friendliness, loyalty beauty and sensitivity.
It is no accident that His Royal Highness Crown Prince
Abdullah, who is a loving expert of horses, should give
great attention to the development of equestrian sports
and its propagation in the country.
Many legends circulate about the courage, wonderful
toughness, solidity and speed of the Arabian horse, whose
legs are exceptionally suited for running through sandy
and stony trails in lava expanses. However, horses need
great attention and exceptional care. The desert people say
that it is easier to raise five children than to take care of
one pony. Children need special care for two years, while
a horse needs constant care for life.
Although the usual and necessary fodder, as we know
it, is almost totally absent, the owner of a horse is keen on
providing what is necessary for his horse, sometimes at
the expense of his own family. And even in difficult times,
he adds to the food of his horse dry dates, cured meat and
dry locusts (the favorite food for desert people). In the
absence of the necessary foodstuffs, he would give the
horse the milk of camel to drink. Some scientists believe
that this miserly food has helped to form swift horses with
delicate bones. However, these types of horses that can
stand the difficulties and rigor of life are an indispensable
source for natural selection in the whole world.
Since time immemorial, the bedouins were, like modern
specialists in the breeding of noble horses, very careful
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and scrutinizing in preserving the pedigree and original
blood of the Arabian horse, whose blood is not adulterated
with a single drop of alien blood. It is customary among
the local population to call witnesses to testify as to the
pure origin and pedigree of horses.
Thus, we see that a horse requires great and constant care
from its owner, which is not the case with camels, which
are an indispensable necessity for the life of bedouins.
Camels are almost the most important and most
common among animals that are capable of adapting
to the difficult conditions of life and of operating under
exceptionally strenuous conditions. Their meat is used as
food, and so are their fat and milk. From their hair clothes
as well as covers, tents and ropes are made. From their
hide are made skins, shoes, bags, belts and other products.
Their bones are burnt and used as fertilizers and their dung
is used as fuel. Moreover, before the advent of motor cars,
camels were practically the only means of transport and
hauling in the Peninsula.
The camels of the Peninsula have but one hump, unlike
those in Central Asia (which have two humps). They are
two or more meters high and each one sometimes weighs
500 kilograms. Their intelligent and piercing eyes are half
closed on account of the bright rays of the sun, the piercing
globules of sand, while their eye-lids are thick and two-
layered for protection purposes. They have relatively
long noses which can be tightly closed in case of strong
sandy winds. Their jaws are very strong and are capable of
breaking the bones of an adult human being if they clamp
on them. Their bodies are somehow frightening, while
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