e absent one," meaning thereby that the owner of the
horse, whether himself or not, would raise no objection to the animal's
being sold for that price. Unless this sentence had been pronounced, the
purchaser could not have been certain that the owner would not say
afterwards he did not intend to sell for that sum. Most of the horses
fetched from three pounds twelve to four pounds ten.

Mules were sold in the same way--the prayer, the parade round the circle,
each rider seated almost on his mule's tail, urging him on, with hands
and heels, to pace his best, the mule's nose up in the heavens. Some of
them were splendid animals, which I would have given anything to have
possessed--perfectly made, looking more intelligent than many humans, and
full of pluck and staying power: these fetched rather more than double,
what the best horse in the whole market sold for. But in criticising the
horses, I speak of what I saw on this occasion: there may be, and no
doubt are, fine arabs to be had in Southern Morocco--at least so I am
told--but I came across only what may be called "a cart-horse stamp."

And yet they look very fine, these same sensible-looking beasts, with
their great eyes, and flowing manes and tails, and proud carriage. There
is something, too, eternally fascinating in the beautiful seat of an Arab
on his horse--not of a fat sheikh or a rich basha or a thriving merchant,
but that of the lean and wiry Arab horseman born and bred, who, as he
thunders past at full gallop, puts himself into a dozen positions, is at
home in them all, shoots behind him, above him, below him, without
drawing rein, turning in any direction, while he makes the whole air ring
with his wild cries. The Moorish saddle of course helps his grip; but
beyond that, there is something cat-like in the lithe swing of his body,
and it is that body's right and natural function to be upon a horse. The
white turban, the flowing white garments, the gorgeously coloured saddle,
the great silvered stirrups, are all part of the whole--and an attractive
whole--born of the limitless desert, the great far-reaching sky, the
pure wind: it is Arabian, that is all--_and so much_.

Meanwhile, camels were selling in another corner of the market, being
made to lie down and rise and generally show themselves off: they were
fetching from three pounds ten upwards. Cows, goats, and sheep were less
interesting; but the throng of men which filled up the fair was, as ever,
more t