CHAPTER VII 



ON THE COLOURS AND MARKS IN HORSES 



A white spot on the forehead sufficiently small to be concealed by 

 the tip of the thumb is called a "star" (sitdra). This mark is 

 sinister and ill-omened, unless there is also some white in the legs. 

 Avoid the malignant influence of a sitdra. 



If the star is too lai^ge to be concealed by the thumb-tip it is 

 called a flpal, and exerts no malignant influence on the purchaser. 



If the qashqa or white mark^ on the forehead extend to the 

 eyes, the horse is called 'tnah-rfi or " moon-faced.^^ Though 

 unsightly this mark is auspicious. 



If there are, in the blaze, hairs the colour of the rest of the 

 body, shun the horse ; for the mark is baneful in the extreme, and 

 experts call that horse a " scorpion" {'aqrah). 



A horse with one wall-e_ye will cause its owner dole. Such a 

 horse is called f/lql^ and will cause its master to be stripped bare. 

 Buy not such a horse, not even for 5 per cent, of its value ; for it 

 is a parlous beast. 



If, however, the horse is " human-eyed " {ddam-chashm = with 

 two wall-eyes), there is no need to be alarmed. Such a horse is 

 called chaghar. Though in reality a chaghar is lucky, it is out- 

 wardly foul to look at. 



If the off-fore is white, the horse is called flower-footed {yul- 

 dast):' Buy it, though dear : but if the contrary foot be white, 

 regard the animal as you regard poison ; rise and flee from it. 

 Such a horse is called " left-handed " {chap-dadY and is unlucky. 



If there are coloured marks in the white, the horse is known to 

 brokers as padam,'^ and considered, by all castes in India, to be 



' Qashqa or qashqd, T., is a general term for a white mark on the 

 forehead of an animal ; also the sect-mark on the forehead of a Hindu. 



2 Called by the Afghans also sulaymdnl dnhh or " onyx-eyed." A 

 piebald horse with one wall-eye is not considei"ed inauspicious by 

 many. 



^ The author of the Zlnat^ H-Khayl reverses the order, and calls a 

 horse with the off-fore white chap-dast, &c. This is apparently a 

 copyist's slip. Modern Persians, however, call that horse chap which 

 has the off -fore and both hind white. 



* Padain the lotus ; the name of certain spots and moles. 



