OF HORSEMANSHIP. n 



original Hebrew word (Parafh, Horfeman), is derived, 

 as Buxtorff fays, from the Hebrew root, which fignifies 

 to prick, or f pur; and the rider, or fpurrer, was fo 

 denominated, becaufe he ufed to prick or fpur the 

 horfe. Eques quod equum cakaribus pungat. Farther, ha 

 quotes Aben Efra, who fays, that the horfeman was 

 fo called, from wearing fpurs upon his heels, a caka- 

 ribus qua funt in pedibus ejus. By this account and expla- 

 nation of the word, which in the Hebrew fignifies an 

 horfemau, we are informed of the great antiquity of 

 fpurs, and may reafonably conclude that the art of 

 riding was not only known, but from the invention of 

 fpurs, had alfo received an improvejnent, not unwor- 

 thy the difcovery of more difcerning times ; and feems 

 to imply, that riding was not only familiar, but even 

 advanced in thofe primitive times to a degree of ex- 

 adtnefs, perhaps, not hitherto fufpedled. 



If any doubt fliould flill remain, as to the feniority 

 of horfemanfliip, I beg leave (among many authorities 

 from the Bible, which, not to furfeit the reader I omit) 

 to ftrengthen the foregoing arg;uments, by the addition 

 of the following, taken from the book o£ Job, in thefe 

 ■words, where (fpeaking of the oftrich) he fays, " Ihe 

 lifteth herfelf on high, Ihe fcorneth the horfe and its 

 rider;" which expreffion feems to imply, that it was a 

 cullom (as now in fome nations) to hunt this bird on 

 horfeback, and that fhe was fuperior to the fwifteft 

 horfe. Hence it muft be granted that riding was 

 pradtifed in his country, and at the time in which he 



C 2 lived ; 



