MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 33;5 



(peed, they in an inflant throw their horfes on 

 their haunches, and flop as if nailed to the 

 ground ; they then fire, and return to the poll-. 

 tion they left, and this manceuvre they pradife 

 fo often, that their horfes are very foon ruined. 

 They feemed to have no idea that an European 

 could ride with dexterity, unlefs taught by them 

 and were much aftoniflied at feeing me, on a 

 fmooth faddle, behind them in no feat of horfe- 

 manfhip. They fire with great exaclnefs, but 

 the fire of cavalry never can be made redoub- 

 able; to give, therefore, to a horfeman, more 

 than one piftol, is, as I have elfewhere obferv- 

 cd, only to encumber him, and to take from his 

 adivity. 



Their manner of fhoeing horfes is awkward 

 in the extreme ; inftead of forming the fhoe in 

 the European manner, they make the two heels 

 crofs each other, leaving an opening fomething 

 like a loop before. They cut away the fore part 

 of the hoof as much as they well can,' but allow 

 it to fpread on the fides, by which means the 

 foot not only becomes unfhapely, but it occa- 

 fions the horfe to cut. The fhoe is only fixed 

 on with three or four nails on each fide of the 

 loops, and the crofTes behind are bent up and 

 hammered into the heel. 



On my arrival at Tangier, Mr. Matra had 

 given me the privilege of ufing his horfes when 



I pleafed ; 



