BRITISH TURF. 67 



vailed in the time of Zenophon, and for the 

 same reason, to secure them from being able to 

 attack and maim each other, the whole stud 

 generally consisting of stallions. Their keepers 

 however, always sleep in their rugs amongst 

 them, to prevent accident ; and sometimes, not- 

 withstanding all their care, they manage to 

 break loose, and then the combat ensues. A 

 general neighing, screaming, kicking and snort- 

 ing, soon raise the grooms, and the scene for 

 awhile is terrible. Indeed, no one can conceive 

 the sudden uproar of such a moment, who has 

 not been in Eastern countries to hear it ; and 

 then all who have, must bear me witness that 

 the noise is tremendous. They seize, bite, and 

 kick each other, with tj^e most determined fury; 

 and frequently cannot be separated before their 

 heads and haunches stream with blood. Even 

 in skirmishes with the natives, their horses take 

 part in the fray, tearing each other with their 

 teeth, while their masters are in similar close 

 quarters on their backs." 



We have the following description of a Per- 

 sian race, by the same author : 



*' My curiosity was fully on the spur to see 

 the races, which I could not doubt must have 

 been chosen from the best in the nation, to 

 exhibit the perfections of its breed before the 



F 2 



