OF HORSEMANSHIP. i-i 



J 



the faddle, and turn their faces to the tail, the horfes 

 all the time going at their utmofl flretch *. 



After the Arabian, the Ferfian horfes are the niofl 

 meritorious throughout the Eaft. The plains of Perfc- 

 polis, Media, Ardebil, and Derbent, raife annually a pro- 

 digious number, which are excellent in mod particu- 

 lars ; but thofe bred in Kurdi/lan (a province) are reck- 

 oned the beft, both in beauty and flrength f . The fa- 

 mous travel lerP/V^ro della Falle, prefers the common horfes 

 of Perfia to thofe of Italy, and even to the moft ad- 

 mired of the kingdom of Naples. 



The Perfian horfes are generally of a middling iize j 

 there are fome which are fmall, but not lefs valuable 

 for vigour and goodnefs. Some alfo are bred of large 

 growth, and as big as our faddle horfes. They are in 

 general fmall-headed, have fine and long fore-hands, 

 are n arrow- chefted, their ears well-turned, and well 

 fet on, legs rather fmall and delicate, croups well 

 fafhioned, and their hoofs good and firm. They are 

 docile, quick, light, bold, full of fpirit, and capable of 

 enduring great fatigue ; very fwift, fure-footed, and 

 of fuch refolution as to perfevere to the laft gafp ; 

 hardy in their conftitution, and eafily nouriflied and 

 maintained. Their food is barley, mixed with cut 

 flraw, which they eat in a bag, tied upon their heads ; 

 in the fpring they are turned to grafs for fix weeks. 



* Dumont's Voyage. f Bell's Travels. 



S z They 



