HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 197 



wounds ; still, after my tall talk, it would not do 

 to let the Frenchmen crow, and the next morning 

 saw me clad in leathers and boots, riding towards 

 the Daud Pacha Barracks, not very comfortable or 

 sanguine of success, but determined to try it on 

 coute qiie coute. A couple of Turkish soldiers, who 

 acted as my grooms, carried a couple of strong ropes, 

 a hoorgee, or Indian-felt saddle, and a bridle fitted 

 with an Arab bit, having a ring fastened to the end 

 of the curb, which goes over the lower jaw and gives 

 considerable additional purchase. Just before I sat 

 down to breakfast I sent my '' chaoush*' (Turkish 

 sergeant) to the commandant of the Turkish troops, 

 near at hand, with a request for a fatigue party of 

 twenty men, provided with spades and pickaxes, and 

 on their arrival I informed the company that I was 

 going to mount my new purchase, but that if any 

 gentleman would like to take precedence in the affair 

 I would be only too happy to cede him the honour. 

 "They were all backward in coming forward," as the 

 Game Chicken exclaimed when no one would try a 

 round with him, and two or three tried to dissuade 

 me from the attempt; but my mind was made up, 

 and after breakfast I went down to the stable, accom- 

 panied by a crowd of officers and men. 



' I first directed the " Buono Johnnies " to take 

 off the roof, and then to break down the upper part 

 of the wall all round, until it was only four feet and 

 a half high, which operation was soon done. I then 



