ON HORSEMANSHIP. 269 



The bandage, or Girth, which confines the Cloth to 

 the horfe's back, muft be fo contrived as not to hurt 

 the rider who fits upon it, nor gall the horfe. 



This is the complete armour of an horfeman and his 

 horfe ; but as the legs and feet of the former will like- 

 wife require to be defended, as they will not be fuf- 

 ficiently guarded by the covering of the thighs, leather 

 boots will be very convenient, and ferve at once for ar- 

 mour for the legs, and fandals for the feet. 



Thefe are the defevjive arms : a fufficient guard, with 

 the afliftance of heaven. With refpeft to offevfive wea- 

 pons, we prefer the fcymiter to the fword ; for the ad- 

 vantage which the horfeman has from his height, re- 

 quires a cutting rather than a pointed weapon. 



Inftead of a fpear, which may be broken, and is in- 

 convenient to carry, we advife two javelins of cornel 

 wood, becaufe a fkilful warriour may throw one, and 

 ufe the other in front or rear, or on either lide, as well 

 as that they likewife have the advantage of the fpear 

 in being ftronger, and more eafy to be carried. 



The greater the diftance from which the javelin is 

 thrown the better ; as it affords a man more time to 

 turn about, and recover his arms. We will defcribe, 

 in few words, the right way to throw the lance. 



If a man, advancing his left-fide, drawing back his 



right, and rifing upon his Thighs, call the lance with 



its point a little upwards, it will fly with the greareft 



force, and to the greatefl diftance, as well as with the 



2 furefl 



