THE EAST INDIAN HORSE. 31 



blood, and he was matched against Pyramus, the best Arabian in Bengal. The 

 distance was two miles, with give and take weights, fourteen hands to carry nine 

 stone, and the Arabian to be allowed seven pounds; Recruit carried ten stones 

 twelve pounds, and Pyramus only eight stones three pounds. They started 

 well together, and ran the first part of the distance neck and neck, but at about 

 half the distance, Recruit took the lead, and the Arabian was beaten easily by 

 several lengths. The distance was run in three minutes and fifty-seven seconds. 

 Another trial took place between Champion, a first-rate Arabian, and Con- 

 stance, a moderately good thoroughbred English horse. The Arabian won in a 

 canter; the question, therefore, is thought by some persons to be yet undecided. 



There is an East Indian pony, called the Tattoo, varying from ten to 

 twelve hands in height. This is a serviceable and hardy animal for carrying 

 baggage or any light weight. Tavernier describes one which he saw ridden 

 by a young Mogul prince, of seven or eight years of age, and which was not 

 much larger than a greyhound. 



In 1765 one, not more than seven hands, or twenty-eight inches in height, 

 was sent from India, as a present to the queen of George III. It was taken 

 from the ship to the palace in a hackney-coach. It was of a dun colour ; and 

 its hair resembled that of a young fawn. It was four years old, well pro- 

 portioned, had fine ears, a quick eye, with a handsome long tail, and was 

 thoroughly good-natured and manageable. 



The Mahrattas were two powerful tribes or nations, inhabiting the central 

 part of Hindoostan, and their territory extending from sea to sea, across the 

 south of the Deccan. Their wars among themselves, or in union with the 

 British against Tippoo Saib, and afterwards against their former protectors and 

 allies, are prominent objects in the modern history of India. Their troops con- 

 sisted almost entirely of cavalry, composed of one of the best varieties of the half- 

 blood Arabian and native horse. The Mahratta, when not on horseback, may be 

 said to be almost constantly employed in shampooing his horse. It is properly 

 so called, for he rubs him violently with his wrists and elbows, as well as his 

 hands, and moulds and bends his limbs in every direction. The Mahrattan way 

 of riding is a singular and, according to European notions, a very ungraceful one. 

 His knees are as high as his horse's back ; he holds on with his heels, and clings 

 with his hands either to the mane or the peak of the saddle. With such aids, 

 his seat is more secure than at first sight it would appear to be. The peak of 

 the saddle rises in the form of a crane's neck, and is said to have been borrowed 

 from the Moguls. A crupper and a martingale are almost indispensable accom- 

 paniments of the Mahratta horse-furniture. It is a singular kind of crupper, 

 however, not projecting from the centre of the saddle, but attached to both sides 

 The tobsa, or leathern vessel out of which the horse eats his corn, is alsc 

 attached to the crupper ; and this part of the trappings is generally ornamented 

 with silver knobs, or with silk tassels or embroidery. 



Their horses, like most of those in the East, are picketed, not only during 

 the day, but very frequently in the night. A rope is carried from the head- 

 stall on each side to a peg driven into the ground. A rope, or thong, is also 

 tied round the fetlocks behind, and carried backwards twenty or thirty feet 

 and fastened to a peg. This pulls the horse back, and keeps him, when 

 standing, on the stretch, but does not prevent him from lying down. When 

 they are thus tethered, their eyes are covered, that they may not be alarmed 

 by any object that passes. They are also clothed, in order that the beautiful, 

 glossy appearance of their coat may be preserved. 



They use the snaffle-bridle, but it is so jagged and pointed that the animal 

 may be punished to the full content of any barbarian that may ride him. 

 The headstall is usually ornamented, and from the rein a thong descends by 



