THE TURKISH HORSE. 25 
THE TURKISH HORSE. 
THIS VARIETY seems to be merely the Arab developed by higher food 
into a larger size and more massive proportions. The horses of Constanti- 
nople are often sixteen hands in height, with very elegant proportions 
and a crupper more highly developed than that of the Arab. They are 
said to be extremely docile, and the two specimens which I have seen 
imported into this country certainly bore out this character, both of them, 
though stallions, being as quiet as any English geldings. They had very 
high crests and arched necks ; and this is said to be one of the charac- 
teristics of the breed. In the records of the turf in this country, many 
of the most celebrated sires are mentioned as Turks ; but though imported 
from Turkey, it is very probable that some of these were genuine Arabs. 
OTHER ASIATIC HORSES. 
Tae Horses oF Toorxistan are described by Sir R. K. Porter as 
scanty in barrel, long in the leg, with ewe necks and large heads. When 
crossed with those of Persia, they, however, are said by him to produce a 
most magnificent animal, all elegance and elasticity, and of a stronger 
form and somewhat larger size than the best Arabians. Sir Alexander 
Burns attributes to them, on the other hand, a very high crest, and large 
and bony though somewhat long bodies. He says, also, that in Bokhara 
there is a breed of Kuzzak horses, sturdy and small, with shaggy coats and 
very long manes and tails, much and deservedly admired. 
Tare Tartar Horses are small and narrow, with long necks, weak 
legs, large heads, and light middles. Nevertheless they are described as 
fast and untiring, and of the most hardy nature, so that they can support 
themselves on a quantity and quality of food upon which even our donkeys 
would starve. 
IN VARIOUS PARTS OF TaRTARY horses are found in a wild state, and 
present a rough inelegant form not unlike that of our New Forest 
ponies. In them the characteristics of the domesticated Tartar horse 
already described are exhibited in a marked manner, and there is every 
reason to believe that the two breeds are identical, and that the ranks of 
the latter are recruited from the enormous herds of wild horses which are 
found in countless thousands on the edges of the vast deserts of the 
country. They are generally of a red colour, with a black stripe along the 
back, and manes and tails of the latter colour, but almost always reddish 
at the roots of the dock and edges of the mane. The Tartars eat the flesh 
both of the wild and domesticated horse, and are said to cook the meat 
under their saddles. They also manufacture a drink called koumiss from 
the milk obtained from the mare, which is fermented and distilled into 
an intoxicating beverage. 
In so vast A counTRY AS Inp1A, it might be expected that numerous 
breeds of horses would be found, varying almost as much as the climates 
and soils of Bengal and Cabool. In the immediate neighbourhood of the 
three presidencies imported and country-bred Arab, as well as Persian and 
Turkooman horses are common enough, as also are importations from the 
Cape of Good Hope, Australia, and Van Diemen’s Land. English horses 
are not nearly so numerous, the expense and risk of the voyage deterring 
most people from the speculation, the doubtful nature of which may be 
estimated from the fact that the insurance is twenty-four to twenty-five 
