50 



The Nogajj Tartar Horses are purchased by the Russians to draw 

 carriages, at perhaps from ten, to twenty or thirty roubles each ; and 

 the Bosh/iirs at seventy or a hundred : these last are capital amblers. 

 Many private individuals of this nation keep Taboons, or studs, of three 

 or four hundred mares, which are never housed throughout the year. 

 The Russian cavalry are mounted from the studs of various Tartar 

 hordes ; but above all, the Teberkesse Horses deserve honourable men- 

 tion. These brave nags, Ave are instructed, are bred upon Mount 

 Caucasus; are about the size of the Kalmucks, and although ill-made, 

 without elegance or proportion, and generally ewe-necked, are so stout 

 as to be able to run six hundred miles in three days : or doubtless, even 

 twelve hundred in the same time, and with the same ease, should that 

 additional stretch be necessary in the report. 



The Cozah of Baihmont, and those inhabiting near the Don, are sup- 

 plied with Horses from the wild herds of the step, or desert, which 

 were formerly described as consisting of three varieties. Those of the 

 step in the vicinity of Azof, owe their origin to the following circum- 

 stance. At the siege ofJzof, in 1697, a prodigous niuiiber of Horses 

 being employed to carry supplies to the besieging army, which was 

 very large, the Horses were compelled to seek sustenance in the heart 

 of the desert, where finding the sweets of liberty, great part of them 

 never returned, but became wild, and propagating, formed extensive 

 herds and a new variety. The new breed was generally uniform in 

 colour, inclining to red or chesnut, the hair being waved or curled ; 

 the mane and tail black, with a list of the same colour along the back, 

 marks which we often see in the dun Horses of this country : when 

 old, the colour of these wild Horses changes to a mouse-grey. In 

 herds of wild Horses, it is said, the stallions always keep watch as sen- 

 tinels, and give notice of the approach of man, or of wild beasts of 

 prey, by neighing in quick succession, and in a peculiarly sharp key ; 

 on hearing of which, the whole troop presently retreat into the depth of 

 the desert, the vigilant males and fathers of the herd, bringing up the 



rear. 



During the winter season, the Cozaks, who are supposed at this time 



to 



