42 THE HORSE. 



of the sun during the day, it becomes pulverized, and in that state 

 is nightly spread under him. Little of it touches his body, that 

 being covered by his clothing, a large nurnmud from the head to 

 the tail, and bound firmly round his body by a very long surcingle. 

 But this apparel is only for cold weather ; in the warmer season 

 the night-clothes are of a lighter substance, and during the heat 

 of the day the animal is kept entirely under shade. At night he 

 is tied in the court-yard. The horses' heads are attached to the 

 place of security by double ropes from their halters, and the heels 

 of their hinder legs are confined by cords of twisted hair, fastened 

 to iron rings and pegs driven into the earth. The same custom 

 prevailed in the time of Xenophon, 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, how- 

 ever, always sleep in their rugs amongst them to prevent accidents, 

 and sometimes notwithstanding all their care they manage to break 

 loose, and then the combat ensues. A general neighing, screaming, 

 kicking, and snorting soon raise the groom, and the scene for a 

 while 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 the most 

 determined fury, and frequently cannot be separated before their 

 heads and haunches stream with blood." 



THE TURKISH HORSE. 



THIS VARIETY seems to be merely the Arab developed by higher 

 food into a larger size and more massive proportions. The horses 

 of Constantinople are often sixteen hands in height, with very 

 elegant proportions and a crupper more highly developed than that 

 of the Arab. They are said to be extremely docile, and the two 

 specimens which I have seen imported into this country certainly 

 bore out this character, both of them, though stallions, being as 

 quiet as any English geldings. They had very high crests and 

 arched necks ; and this is said to be one of the characteristics of 

 the breed. In the records of the turf in this country, many of 

 the most celebrated sires are mentioned as Turks; but though 

 imported from Turkey, it is very probable that some of these were 

 genuine Arabs. 



OTHER ASIATIC HORSES. 



THE HORSES OF TOORKISTAN are described by Sir R. K. Porter 

 as scanty in barrel, long in the leg, with ewe necks and large heads. 

 When crossed with those of Persia, they, however, are said by him 

 to produce a most magnificent animal, all elegance and elasticity, 

 and of a stronger form and somewhat larger size than the best 



