128 INTRODUCTION. 



this MS., and a duplicate at Cambridge with simi- 

 lar designs, are both ascribed to the latter end of 

 the ninth century. We believe to have seen other 

 instances in French and German illuminated books, 

 and think that the Spanish Saracens introduced the 

 custom. It is true that there are Anglo-Saxon MSS. 

 of so late as the eleventh century, where designs re- 

 present horsemen without stirrups ; but this proves 

 only that, like in all other great innovations, time 

 alone confers universal consent ; for, in the figures of 

 horses published by Strada, and representing those 

 of different nations, there are still some in Europe 

 and in Africa without them, and, until lately, seve- 

 ral tribes of Mahrattas in India used none. 



In the time of the Roman conquest of Syria, 

 there were Bedoueen Arabs who, like the Nu mi- 



Circassian. 



Turkish. 



Syrian. 



European. Mule. Tahtar. 



Ancient Horse-shoes. 



dians, still rode without bridles. "With regard to 

 horse- shoes, recent authors have concluded that they 



