A BATCH OF CURIOUS MATCHES 59 



tary service in India. This horse was always forced 

 to be held by two coolies for his master to mount 

 him ; and it was always necessarj- also that the coolie 

 to which the horse was most attached should be 

 present at his dismounting, to prevent his being at- 

 tacked by the horse. One da}^, the general, having 

 prolonged his ride beyond the accustomed hour, on 

 his arrival at home thoughtlessly dismounted, and 

 ran up-stairs to the drawing-room without waiting 

 for the coolie. The consequence was that he had 

 not entered the room many moments before the 

 horse made his appearance, but evidently without 

 any vicious intent, for he, immediately on seeing his 

 master, '' knuckered " with pleasure. Of course with 

 a horse of such value it was a subject of considera- 

 tion how he was to be got down again. However, 

 when the coolie appeared he made light of the matter, 

 and taking him by the bridle, with little trouble and 

 no ill-consequence safely led him down the stairs ; 

 and from that time, by some strange caprice, the 

 animal showed as much personal attachment to his 

 master as to the favourite coolie.' ^ 



The Persians from the earliest ages have been a 

 horsey nation. Every one in the country rides, and 

 rides well too. 



' Before 1800, no political mission from a European 

 nation had visited the Court of Persia for a century ; 



* Blaine's Encyclopcedia of Rural Sports, 



