OF HORSEMANSHIP. 21 



betray and difcover their riders, in an enterprizc of 

 war, or excurfion of pillage, in which they wifhcd to 

 fall unexpectedly upon the enemy. 



The Sarmatians, both Afiatic and European, were 

 dirtinguiflied horfemen, and had large breeds of horics. 

 They ufed in. war a particular fort of armour, which- 

 covered themfelves and their horfes from head to foot: 

 the Perfians worc alfo, according to Ammianus Mar- 

 cellinus, armour of iron, which inclofed the whole 

 man ; they armed their horfes with, the fame metali 

 on their chefts and heads, and this fafhion was adopt- 

 ed by many other nations. Paufanias-in his Attics de- 

 fcribes the Sarmatian armour, and fays it was made of 

 boae, which they ufed in the place of iron, their own. 

 country having no mines of this metal, and they en- 

 deavouring to procure none from other nations. They 

 ufed horfes not only to ride, but ofifered them in facri- 

 fice to their gods, as did alfo many other nations; 

 They likewife eat their flefh, and drank their blood ; as 

 did another tribe of the fame people, called the Ge- 

 loni, and the Maflagetes. Lucan and Virgil records 

 this cuftom ; 



Majfageles quo fugtt eqiio, valuer efque Geloni^ . 

 hongaqiie Sarmatici folvens jejunia belli *. 



The MafTagete, who at his favage feail 



Feeds on the gen'rous fteed which late he prefL 



* Lib. iii. Row. Virg. Georg. 3d. Warton's tranH 



Acerqtte 



