Article on Count Rzewuski’s mansuscript on Arabian horses, travels East

A fascinating and thoroughly documented article (in French) by anthropologist Bernadette Lizet on the French manuscript of count Wenceslas Rzewuski, which was touched upon in an earlier post and ensuing thread.

7 Replies to “Article on Count Rzewuski’s mansuscript on Arabian horses, travels East”

  1. Hello I like this tread !
    And I have a question?
    Have anybody some thing article about Rzewuski”in English or German !
    Thank you !

  2. to Joksimovic.
    Dear friend
    the only English or German reference on Rzewuski writings I could find is in:

    “Begriffsbestimmung – Zur Beschreibung des Vollblutpferdes in der europäischen und arabischen hippologischen Literatur”
    Dr. habil. Karin Thieme
    http://www.vollblutaraber.de.
    Please note that the traduction is automatically made by the german site not by myself.
    “The description of the thoroughbred horse in the European and Arab hippological literature”

    In classical literature on the Arabian horse especially of the 19th and 20th century finds the reader a flood of words that are all pursuing the same goal: the description of the Arab whole of the pure-blood in the desert horse-drawn or the “desert-bred”. At this point should be tried, the variety of terms and descriptions of the noble pure-blood Arab to summarize. This applies particularly to those terms, the reader often less known, because today, hardly anyone makes the effort to spread through the numerous publications on this topic to work. The transcription of the words from Arabic by these authors has been retained, thus differs only their spelling, but not their importance.

    To the usual terms, which even today generally used include the terms and Asil al khamsa. Both serve to describe the pure Arab blood, in all its pedigree breeding lines on Bedouin is due, without a Einkreuzung of allogeneic, ie non-Arab blood units, record. It is well known that both names of the breeders’ associations Asil Club in Germany and the U.S. Al Khamsa Inc. have been defined and in their publications, the Asil Arabian documentation and the Al Khamsa Directory, notices are. When used properly, these terms So Horse on the statutes of these associations by definionem and in accordance with their “Stutbüchern” they are registered. At this point, therefore, should not continue on these concepts and their actual use has taken place. Rather, I would like to point out that even these two terms no word creations of the targeted organizations, but – and this shows in particular the notion Asil – in the hippo logical literature a long tradition TISSUE.

    The following compilation is an attempt to reprocessing, which is not exhaustive and discussed the Beigrifffe not carry ranking. This is beyond the scope of such a contribution here. Moreover, precisely the debate about the definition of pure Arab blood in the’70s led to great confusion. Some “older” breeders and interested parties will still be remembered. In addition to this contribution was not the whole literature on the Arab horse through, but emphasis on important and recognized works, and their description of the Arabian horse of the desert, the desert bred. ”

    A shimmering notion, even in the hippo logical literature, is the “races” concept, with whom I would like to open this up. It will be reflected in detail in the book “The horse with the Arabs” by Joseph Freiherr von Hammerstein-Purgstall (Vienna 1855-56). Besides the German linguist, writer and orientalist Walt Whitman was the hammer-Purgstall prominent orientalist of his time: A scientist , The most oriental languages and dialects and dominated his book on the Arabian horse on behalf of the Austrian emperor wrote as a document for the great interest in this horse race in the 19th Century. But despite his proven Expertentums also applies hammer Purgstall to texts of other writers of his time on this subject, such as Damoiseau (1842), Mazoiller (1854), Abd El Kader (1853), Daumas (1853-54), Burckhardt (1831) Graf Rzewuski (Volume 5 of “Lost pits of the Orient”) and the only existing Perrons French translation of Abu Bakr’s famous work “Naceri” from the year 1852.

    Generally hammer Purgstall between noble horses (from a stallion of noble birth and therefore equipped with noble characteristics) and horses of noble birth or descent, whose both parents are of noble descent. They are the aristocrats among the desert horses. We would now purely simplistically drawn (pure bred Arabs) say, a pure-blood horses without foreign influence to call. Hammer Purgstall also distinguishes between “races” and “families” (English strains) today, according to the usual definition of these terms. Of interest in this context are the so-called races. An important statement in the text of hammer-Purgstall is the assertion that the generic term for the noble horse, as in Arab countries would be used, either koheilan. Here he refers to observations by Perron and Mazoiller. Hammer Purgstall writes further, the designation was koheilan by the Count Rzewuski in Volume 5 of its “Lost pits of the Orient” in the literature on the Arab horse has been introduced.

    Approximately 150 years later researched Marit Kretschmar in her book “horse and rider in the Orient (1980), the term kuhaylan was the first time in the 17th century by ARVIEUX mentioned and is now in the modern Arab literature on horseback used. It is interesting that this name in classical literature, especially by Arab authors such as Abu Bakr “Naceri” from the 14th century is not mentioned. After all, the “Naceri” as the most comprehensive study on the Arabian horse in the Arabic language. But we remain Terminus at koheilan. Purgstall hammer interprets it in the derivation of the black eye paint “kuhl” (kohl, Arab. antimony) Bedü the women as “one with black eyes” (mostly because of the lack of very fine hair or dress in Arab eyes area Horses). Horr is another name for the colt, whose parents are of pure lineage, is used. They are found among others, Daumas and hammer-Purgstall.

    Analogous to ad-Damiris “Zoological Dictionary” said Hammer Purgstall three synonyms for the pure Arabs. Here, the term “Arabian horse” always used synonymously for a “horse of pure / pure-blood origins,” and leaves the interpretation to the conclusion, an Arabian horse is always a horse reingezogenes. The first of these three concepts is kaidol-ewabid of the Arabian horse because of his speed to the wild animals counts. The second term is aatik, during the Arab language history a great significance change in its application through. Aatik means “the free horse.” The third term is nedschib, “the liberal and free horse,” synonymous with Kerim, the “generous”.

    Hammer Purgstall sets in further stated that the Arab approximately 12 equivalent terms familiar to the noble, the pure-blood horses to describe. He cites only two: Arabs and ethnic thirf that he can both untranslated, but in a linguistic affinity for English racing term “turf” refers. Even many Arab poets use a variety of names for the pure blood or thoroughbred horse. Finally hammer Purgstall mentioned that all known racial designations an invention of the 19th Century, the classical Arabic literature logical hippo does not know: family names so as Saqlawi Jedran, Kuhaylan Ajuz, Muniqi etc., since the discussion of Raswan often synonymous with so-called “types” are interpreted. With these basic types, after a certain phenotype Raswan connected: the masculine-meaningful Kuhaylan, the feminine and elegant Saqlawi and langlinige Muniqi.

    But once again returned to the notion kuhaylan, as he generally for the pure blood Arabian horse as a family and one other name used, as well as the notion Atiq, whose spelling (aatik, Atik, atq) at the very authors varies. Etymologically, the term kuhaylan to the name “kuhl”, with hammer-Purgstall as well as later writers such as Roger Upton (1881), Tweedie (1894) and flat (1977). Besides the already mentioned black Augenmake-up of women Bedü Flade also refers to the black skin of the gazelle as for the eyes of many Arabian horses is typical. Marit Kretschmar, in her dissertation very intensively with the definition set apart has, inter alia, refers to that of “kuhl” derived word “kuhaylun”: Erdpech, when the Bedouins as a remedy against mange in camels has been used. The French connoisseur Arabian horses Mercier is opposed in his major work “La Parure des Chevaliers” (1924) clearly stated the importance of “kuhl” for his black skin was not in the classic yet modern Arab literature hippo logical encounters and thus a European invention Authors.

    The term Atiq (aatik, Atik, atq) was in the Arabic language and literature hippo logical exclusively to the first class of horses used: the noble, ie reingezogenen thoroughbreds. This name corresponds to its use today the most common term Asil. A horse was only “Atiq ‘, and if both parents also” Atiq “were. They were the ideal according to the Arab hippo logical writings. Many European authors used as a synonym for “Atiq” the term “pure-drawn” (engl. “pure-bred”). According to the generally applicable statutes of the World Arabian Horse Organization define all “pure-bred” as a whole Arabs. For example, Frey in his dissertation (1968) from the definition of the differences affair dragged by a net breeding and a blood Net Arabs characterized. A certain change, the concept in the Orient by Atiq, when he was in the course of time use for Halbblutpferde found the after Perron (1852) as originally Hagin (hajin) were described. How many Orient travelers used the term “Atiq” since the 17th Century for horses “unedler” descent. The pure blood as the horse has since been kuhaylan, nagdi (Nejdi) and Arab means. Thus, the term Atiq a clear reduction in quality experienced by the name of the Edelpferdes about half of up to horses with no known origin, the muqrif.

    Also, the German author Erika Schiele takes to transform this concept in her book “Arabian Horses” (1972) position. She writes, Atik have different interpretations, which range from “alien”, “foreign” about “half” to “purely a long time” rich. Schiele gives an overview of those other terms, the pure blood horse define and are used synonymously: safinat as the original, before Muhammad’s lifetime well-known name for a pure Arab, Arab for pure Arabs since 8 Emerging century, kuhaylan than later notion of Abu Bakr “Naceri” from the 14th Century is unknown and under Perron as a symbol of northern Bedouin tribes for pure descendants of his Nedsch brought from the horse was used. Asil The term means “from the roots, originating from her immaculate.” In Syria is the term for pure chebouw horses, the aristocrats, used. The hadudi are the first class of horses that are already in the herd tested, whereas horses, whose maternal ancestors itself over time in tribal possession, as mazbut were called – a testament to the great importance the Bedouin parent lines their breeding animals to it. Finally, also applies the concept sakit on horses of pure lineage, but as an individual are worthless.

    A more extensive study on the Arabian horse, the French authors Nicole de Blomac and Denis Bogros with the book “L’Arabe – premier cheval de sang” (1978) submitted. This excellent book, which unfortunately due to the fact that it only exists in French, some shadows, is a very important contribution, which is very thoroughly with the Arab thoroughbred in all its facets addressed. Bogros and de Blomac mention other important sources on the topic definition. They also relate mainly to the terms and atq Kahlan. They call an Arab source from the 9th Century, the term eatq for “pure, old, old lines coming from” indicates. Perron there for the plural atteci / ateki the translation of “pure-blood, faultless.” In this linguistic affinity refers Bougelat in 18th Century hatiq to the concept of “tainted” (ie of dubious origin). The French Journal des Haras (1832) used the term attechi for “common, average.”

    Bogros and de Blomac also summarize the different meanings of the term kuhaylan in a large tabular list together. Niebuhr (1760) and the Journal of the Haras (1832) to translate the plural koheila / kochlani as “horses, with 2000 year genealogy.” An Arab source of the 10th Khel century called for “black”, Bourgelat (18th century) kehilan called for “noble”, Burckhardt (1831) interpreted koheil as “horse, which of the five mares descendant of the prophet,” Perron (1852) describes the “pure blood” as Kahlan, d’Aure (1894; director of Saumur Cavalry School) is a “noble horse” as kochlani, Lady Wentworth (1944) translated kahilan “whole”, Brown (1929) and Ashoub (1948) turn kochlani / koheilan as ” noble, “Abouzeid (1951) shows the importance kohelan” from the root of the Kohelan “, and finally interpreted Raswan (1930) kuhaylan / kouhaylan as a” descendant of the Khoe mare. ” The famous German author Ammon (1834), the Bogros and de Blomac not perform, as there koheylan translation of the term “noble horse” to.

    The aforementioned Arab source from the 10th Century, there are different from other authors, by the notion khel with “black” (see “kuhl”) translated. The modern Arabic word “khel” on the other hand, means “horse” differs so strongly in the importance of “black” (arab. “Aswad”) from. The interpretation of khel ( “horse”) expanding, call Bogros and de Blomac the use of the term al khir according to its use in the Koran, which is a synonym for “the good, the horse.” Even the Koran mentions the concept safinat for “faultless horse” and aj-jiyad for “horse of great speed.” Even the classical Arabic knows many terms used to describe the thoroughbred horse. These include al arab for “Arabian horse,” Faras al for a “high-horse race,” Atiq for “faultless”, Horr for “free (of errors), noble”,, Hariq s nasab for “the origin zurückreichend” . Niebuhr (1760) finally differentiated between Kahlan adjouz or kehilan ajuz for “old blood” (ie in the old tradition of descent) and Kahlan djedid for “new, modern thoroughbred.” Whatever it may also mean, is perhaps a statement in the basic distinction between pure blood and pure bred Arabs to seek (see Frey 1968). Although Niebuhr derivation of the term of the word kuhaylan Kahlan (Lady Wentworth after a Yemeni Bedouin tribe) seems somewhat confusing, but what the Transskription all these notions from the Arab view, it is Niebuhr merit, that the concept kuhaylan is now generally gebäuchlich and such a great influence on the literature on the Arab horse has taken.

    Finally, a few comments on today perhaps the most common term for the pure blood horse, the notion Asil. Again Niebuhr (1760) calls “noble, of authentic Arab descent” as a translation for Asil. Tweedie, for example, the title of his extensive book, “The Arabian Horse – Country and its People” (1894) makes it clear that he long lived in oriental countries, has spoken of Asil as “from a secure home coming.” The plural asalat means after Tweedie “of solid, profound basis” in accordance with the translation as “whole”. At that time, the general description in English and Arabic for “thoroughbred” of the term “thorougbred” – as he now only for the English Rennpferderasse used – instead of “pure-bred.” It is widely known that even the Bedouin of the desert itself as a designated Asil, referring to her noble lineage. Thus the concept superseded the old Asil Atiq term in its original significance “because of the noble descent”. In its “index” is based on Raswan Lady Wentworth, which he often quoted, even so far as to say Asil in the translation of “authentic” would be used exclusively for horses whose parents are both from the same or a closely related family come (according to his family types theory).

    Another important note to the notion there Asil Gladys Brown Edwards in her article “The Magic Touch” (World Arabian Horse 8 / 1984, p. 379), where they turn Lady Wentworth cited. The latter insist that the concept of Asil already Monvette the Frenchman was mentioned, around 1680 as a slave who lived in Morocco. Monvette reported by Arab mares with exceptionally beautiful type, which, from Arabia and Egypt coming in the stables of the French king diesel. Monvette is quoted: “the noble, which they call Asil, always come from Arabia, not from the Barbary … these Arab stallions and mares of Arab noble race are … by the monarch wanted to test …”. May be that the Wentworth source is not reliable, since Lady Wentworth is known, the interpretation of traditional contexts after their discretion and their own interests in accordance with present, but it is precisely this passage makes clear that the concept of Asil not a neologism of Blutfanatikern the present or even the Asil Club is how is this organization in the early years of its existence often accused by critics was.

    Finally, I again emphasize that this compilation of names of Arabian Characterization of pure blood horses in the tradition of Arab and European literature hippologischer only a small can give insight into a wide field of research. Thus, here only some very important authors and their works will be discussed. But perhaps this compilation will help the interested reader, breeders and enthusiasts of this breed, with the basics of the centuries-old Arabian breeding abuses. This long tradition and the connectedness of the Arabian horse with the origin area, the people and the religion of the Arabian Peninsula has many interesting cultural and historical aspects of the modern Arabian breeding today often from her memory has been deleted.

  3. Peter Harrigan suggested that this manuscript was to be translated/transliterated into English by a publisher that he is associated with. Is this still happening?
    cheers
    diane

  4. I don’t think Peter knew about the blog but we talked about it in Tulsa. I told him to check it out!

    Thank you for the link to this article (French is my mother tongue). I am very tempted to buy the book.

    Christine

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