THE COLONIAL HORSE 



203 



on him ; the men got astride him, and put a little log under his tail, 

 and handled his head and ears. When all had had something to do 

 with him, and a great deal to say to him, the chief produced a very 

 ugly-looking overcoat, made of rough shaggy flax, and took it to 

 the colt's head. He first rubbed his head and body all over with 

 it, then beat or dusted him with it. The women shook their dresses 

 in his face and put their hands over his eyes. The chief opened 

 his mouth and put his hands in it, and sat on his neck. 



Two men were now put to dig a road for the colt to get out, and 

 others to fetch brushwood. Whilst they did this, the chief put a 



The very babies could jump on his back. 



piece of long, strong flax fibre into the colt's mouth and tied it 

 loosely round the lower jaw. Another piece was put over his head 

 and tied to the mouth piece, so as to form a complete bridle. A 

 long line of the raw flax leaf was tied to the loop round the jaw, for 

 lunging line. 



As soon as a few feet of the soft black earth was removed from 

 the front of the colt, and brushwood and clay substituted, the old 

 horse was brought up to the river end of the road with a naked boy 

 on him, and the colt driven after him, the chief holding the flax 

 line. The boy took the old horse into a deep quiet part of the river 



