250 CASUALS IN THE CAUCASUS 



elastic to light on the ground gently as thistledown. 

 All the while he clutched the fire-shovel stirrup in his 

 hand, and by this fragile connexion he, somehow or 

 other, gained the saddle again. 



The frenzied rush lasted for quite a few minutes, 

 until with a tug at the cruel Turkish bits the horses 

 sank quivering to their haunches, lathered all over. 

 The interesting show would have gained considerably 

 had it been performed in an open space, with a station- 

 ary audience. Contrived as it was on a miserable 

 track running between gigantic limestone rocks, the 

 splendid riding lost much of its effect. 



The Cossacks certainly are the most superb horse- 

 men, but they don't strain the quality of mercy much. 

 In fact, of all the peoples of the Caucasus, the Dukho- 

 bors alone treat their animals as I should like to be 

 treated were I a horse. But, humanitarianism apart, 

 it is a fine sight to see the Cossack balance and seat, 

 so careless and nonchalant, so completely one with 

 the steed, centaur-like, 



I noticed particularly one rider mounted on a 

 half-broken colt, probably fresh from running wild 

 on the steppes. Over and over again the terrified 

 creature reared up and fell backwards with a sicken- 

 ing crash, and each time the agile Cossack slipped off 

 coolly at just the right moment in just the right 

 way, to mount again as the horse struggled to its feet. 

 They all seemed able to bring to an instant stand 

 animals galloping at headlong speed, and although 

 there is such an appearance of carelessness in all these 

 manoeuvres, I fancy that great muscular effort is in 



