Section XIII-THE TRANSIT OF HORSES 



SEA CAEEIAGE 



There is every reason to suppose that the horse was very early in the 

 workl's history compelled to carry man, but when the latter first devised 

 means for the conveyance of horses is not known. 



Potentates both oreat and little were from the earliest times the 

 recipients of presents in the shape of horses from distant lands, and sea 

 carriage appears to have long preceded the horse-box upon wheels. 



Ships capable of conveying Hannibal's elephants from Carthage to the 

 Spanish peninsula may well have carried horses, but they do not receive 

 any mention in connection with that great general's disposition of the sea 

 forces which landed upon Mediterranean shores, to dispute with Rome for 

 the mastery of the world. 



Viewing the shipping arrangements of to-day, one can scarcely believe 

 there has been much improvement, save in the matter of ventilation. 



The great passenger ships by which private individuals usually convey 

 favourite horses offer no special accommodation ; there are no stalls or 

 permanent fittings on the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers, 

 for instance, although they frequently carry horses of great value, both 

 east and west. The site usually assigned to horses is in the ship's waist, 

 where the greatest amount of protection fr'om the weather is ensured. Here 

 they are enclosed in a narrow wooden box some 7 feet by 2 feet 3 inches, 

 the sides of which are 6 feet high. At one end is a door whence the 

 manure can be removed, and outside the other end a small manger fits 

 into iron slots. Beyond a little trap-door on a level with the floor there 

 is no provision made for drainage. The urine escapes from the box as best 

 it may, finding its way from the deck to the scuppers, and out through the 

 holes provided on all vessels for the escape of water. The horse is not led 

 aboard as in the regular cattle ships, but is boxed on the quay, and then, 

 by means of slings attached to semicircular iron bars placed equidistant 

 above him and from the ends of his prison, he is raised by the steam crane 

 or derrick, and lifted aboard as deftly as might be a lady's bandbox. In 



Vol. in. 461 95 



