OP FARM CATTLE. 123 



for the beauty of his form, the nobleness of his car- 

 riage, the rapidity of his march, and the strength, 

 spirit, and patience with which he bears the heavi- 

 est burdens and the most ex ^essive fatigues. 



Of these powers some cut ous and extraordinary 

 instances are recorded. The couriers of Russia 

 travel from Petersburgh to Tobolsk, a distance of 

 19 26m., in twelve days. Their rate of travelling 

 is, of course, about one hundred miles a day. What, 

 in equestrian phrase, is called a great mover, will, 

 without pressing, trot 640 yards in 80 seconds, and, 

 if pressed, will go over the same distance in 50 sec- 

 onds. In the first case, the rate of moving is 5 feet 

 3 inches per second, and in the other 8 feet 5 inch- 

 es. The Roman horses, probably descendants from 

 Barbs, ran at the rate of 27 feet the second of time ; 

 and the British horse Childers is said to have run 

 at the rate of 45 feet 5 inches ; and Stirling, an- 

 other British horse, at the rate of 82 1-2 feet per 

 second.* This may be regarded as the maximum 

 of horse speed. 



The ordinary load in France of a four-wheeled 

 wagon, drawn by six horses on a pavement x is 

 10,000 pounds; that of a cart, drawn by four hor- 

 ses, 5500. With these loads they travel 10 leagues 

 a day for six weeks together. A single horse has 

 been known to draw 500 pounds at the rate of 140 

 yards in 112 seconds; and on the pavements of Lon- 

 don a single horse has drawn 6000 pounds for a 

 short distance, and 3000 for a considerable distance, 

 and with facility. This appears to be the maximum 

 of horse power in drawing. 



* British Zoology for 1763-4. In Peru are two races of hor- 

 ses (originally Andalusian) well worth the attention of the rich 

 amateurs of the United States. The names by which these 

 races are known are the Parameros and the Aqualillas. See Ul- 

 loa's Voyage, tome i., page 370. In Chili also is a race which, 

 for beauty, action, and hardiness, may be compared with the 

 horse of Arabia, and with this advantage, that they are very 

 cheap, while those of Arabia are very dear. See Molina's Nat 

 Hist, of Chili, page 505, et sea. 

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