A KALMOUK 



81 



keep together without apparently any form of equine govern- 

 ment. "Several kossiaks form what is called in Russian, a 

 taboune, which may consist of hundreds and sometimes 

 thousands of animals, that have to shift for themselves. 

 These horses are brought up much in the same way as those 

 on Montana ranches. The horses of the Don are provided 

 to a greater or less extent with food, are often given shelter 

 during bad weather, and attention is paid to their breeding. 

 In their bringing up, we may compare them to horses that 



FIG. 20. A Kalmouk and his Lasso. 



are 



raised in Australia for export to India. On all the 

 steppes, the horses are caught by means of a lasso, of which 

 we see an example coiled up and hanging from the side of 

 the saddle occupied by the Kalmouk in Fig. 20. This 

 method of capture as practised in Russia, often causes severe 

 and not unfrequently fatal injuries, and has the further serious 

 objection that in any case it hurts the part of the neck which 

 is close to the head, to a greater or less extent, and conse- 

 quently renders the animal difficult to bridle, and sometimes 



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