124 THE HISTORY AND ART 



" It is well known (fays he) that the chief article 

 *' of property in Arabia confifls in horfes, which are 

 " the fined and beft of their kind. Their owners ma- 

 *' nage them in their way very dexterouHy. Their fad- 

 " dies have the back part, or Cantle, fo high, that it 

 " reaches more than half way up the rider's back. 

 ' The ftirrnps are flat, in the Turkifli manner, and 

 '* contain the whole foot. They never ufe a girth, 

 " which makes it more difficult to mount, and keep 

 " their feat. Th€ Arabian youth underftand the equi^ 

 *' libre, and keep their body in a jufl: coimterpoife, 

 " being fo dextrous, that they will fland on the faddle 

 " while the horfe runs at full fpeed, fling their lances, 

 '* turn round, throw themfelves over, and fland 

 " upon their heads ; the horfe continuing his career 

 " all the time *." 



The reader will remember^ that thefe performances 

 are related by many writers to have been inufc among 

 the Romans ; and the prefent times afibrd, in this 

 kingdom, many inftances of thefe extraordinary feats 

 of agility ; which, though wonderful and imufual^ 

 are not equal to what the Rope-dancers conftantly exhibit 

 in their public fhews, and which can by no means be 

 allowed to pafs for horfemanfliip ; which depends upon 

 the exat^lnefs, readinefs, and fidelity with which the 

 horfe obeys the diredions of his rider, who is re- 

 quired to give them according to the known rules of 



* Haflelquift.. 



the 



