OF HORSEMANSHIP. 133 



make it lefs offenlive when it is dried, and ftrewed for 

 litter under them. 



They drefs and clean their fkins with a fort of Curry- 

 comb, which has no handle, and but four Graters, or 

 T'eeth: after having curried them, they clofe and 

 fmooth the hair, by rubbing it with a piece of felt. 



The Perfians have great perfonal addrefs and acti- 

 vity on horfeback. They play at Mall mounted on their 

 horfes, and llrike the ball with certainty and furprifing ' 

 fkill. They place alfo upon the top of a tree, or high 

 pole, an apple, as a mark to fhoot at with arrows. 

 They fet oiF full fpeed, and when they are got beyond 

 the mark, turn themfelves round towards the croupe, 

 draw their bows, and in this pace, and this attitude, 

 feldom fail to hit the apple. 



The India}i breed of horfes is in no degree good or 

 agreeable. The chief people of the country, for this 

 reafon, ride thofe which come from Perjia or Arabia. 



Their keepers give them a little hay in the day time, 

 and at night feed them with peas boiled with fugar 

 and butter. This diet is the chief nourifliment they 

 have, and it keeps up their ftrength to a certain de- 

 gree, for without it they would decay and perifh ; the 

 climate being unfriendly, and ill adapted to the na- 

 ture of horfes. They fometimes alfo give them Tarns. 



The breed of the country is very fmall, and it is 

 probable that thofe climates in which the heat is ex- 

 cellive, are very ill-fuited to the conftitution of the 

 liorfe ; for thofe which are found upon the Gold 



Coaft>. 



