152 By Mountain , Lake, and Plain 



off their equitation, for Persians think a good 

 deal of riding, and firmly believe that skill like 

 theirs can be seen in no other country in the 

 world, an illusion shared with them I believe by 

 at least one other nation. There was a time 

 when Persians really could "ride, shoot, and 

 speak the truth " : now 



" Horses they ride without remorse or ruth, 

 At speaking truth perhaps they are less clever, 

 But draw the long-bow better now than ever." * 



On these occasions, rider after rider darts out of 

 the throng, and setting his horse at full speed, 

 drops the reins and goes through the motions of 

 unslinging, loading, and firing a rifle. The per- 

 formance fills one with admiration of their nerve, 

 as they are regardless of the ground they ride 

 over, and their peculiar seat, with long stirrups 

 and body inclined forward, gives one the un- 

 comfortable impression that like the knights in 

 ' Alice in the Looking-glass,' they only want the 



1 A good story is told by Malcolm illustrating the importance 

 attached by Persians to riding. An English ambassador was 

 riding through a bazar, attended as usual by a mounted retinue. 

 Something startled his horse, and being an indifferent rider he 

 fell off. Going on his way, he noticed that his Persian ghulam- 

 bashi had stayed behind. The latter, however, shortly after- 

 wards rejoined him, and in a confidential tone intimated that he 

 had made the best of the unfortunate contretemps "Every one 

 in the crowd," he added, "is now convinced that your Honour 

 was drunk " ! 



