Page 43 - The Sloughi Review - Issue 7
P. 43
T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 4 3
To make the reverse conclusion and to say With the return of some of these people,
that all Eastern sighthounds are Salukis is so came their sighthounds to England and
only understandable if one takes into in the end the efforts to establish and
account that the general name for a describe these sighthounds of various
sighthound in the Arabic language is "Saluki" types and origins resulted in the
or "Slughi". This basic designation for a "admirably flexible breed standard" (Sir
sighthound must take into account the Terence Clark [21]).
different types of different origins, without
having a too rigid system as a basis, which The breeds of North African Sloughi and
would not do justice to the respective breed, Asian Saluki according to FCI
if you will.
"… The Slughi in North Africa is of the
The Standard keeping country for the Saluki same type as the smooth Slughi of further
breed in the FCI is England. So we have to east, and it is said to be of the same
briefly look at the background to the origin Arabian origin, though it now forms a
of the breed description. Brig. Gen. Lance distinct variety. These greyhounds are
and some of his colleagues who were doing highly valued by the sporting Beys of
their military service in the Levant and the Algiers, Tunis, and elsewhere, and the
Middle East as well as Egypt, got to know Bedawin of the Sahara, and the best ones
the fast hunting dogs there, which they come from the Tell and Sidi Cheikh.
called "greyhounds" at home, but which They are handsome dogs, strong and
there were named "Saluki", "Slughi" or "Tazi". muscular, with a powerful frame, which is
Many were avid hunters and, whenever
there they were allowed the time, drove said to give them a lean appearance. They
away the cares of everyday life with their have a narrow head and pointed nose.
hobby. That was mainly at the time when the They are light yellow sand colour, with
Ottoman Empire collapsed, when people like smooth coat, devoid of any feathering. They
Gertrude Bell or T.E. Lawrence immersed have black muzzle and nose, and black
themselves deeply in Arab culture and had markings over the eyes, which are brown.
some influence on politics with their Their ears are like those of an ordinary
knowledge. Both Gertrude Bell and T.E. Greyhound, only larger. They are used for
Lawrence were Arabian scholars and hunting gazelle and other desert animals.
travelers for many years before the These Slughi have very fine sporting
beginning of WWI. qualities ... " (Florence Amherst [22]).
