186 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

in former times may be gathered from Strabo, who says that
the Cappadocians paid an annual tribute to the kings of
~ Persia of 1500 horses, 2000 mules, and 50,000 sheep.

In 1 Chronicles iv. the account of the descendants of
Judah ends in the following manner, showing the great im-
portance attached to the possession of good pasturage :—
“These mentioned by their names were princes in their
families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.
And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east:
side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks ; and they
found fat pasture and good; and the land was wide, and
quiet, and peaceable, for they of Ham had dwelt there of
old. And these written by name came in the days of
Hezekiah, king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the
habitations that were found there, and destroyed them
utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their room, decauee there
was pasture there for their flocks.”

David bestowed particular attention on his flocks and
herds ; after he became king they were doubtless one great
source of his revenue; and we find in 1 Chronicles xxvii.
that they were dispersed in various valleys and plains of
the kingdom, and also sent to the deserts of the south and.
east, under the guidance of Arabian pastors; Obil, an