LXIY 



THE Greek in some respects approaches more to the 

 European than to the Oriental civilization, but in his 

 equestrianism he may well be added to the latter, though 

 he properly belongs to neither. There is perhaps no 

 odder -looking rider than a Greek peasant on a pack- 

 saddle. The saddle is made so as to be equally adapted to 

 pack or to riding, and while fairly good for the one is 

 wretched for the other. Unlike those of all other peo- 

 ples, this saddle, instead of being placed in the middle of 

 the back or towards the rump, is made to fit so that the 

 centre of gravity lies directly over the place where the 

 English pommel sits i.e., exactly back of the top of the 

 withers. When the Greek rides this horror of a saddle 

 he is perched directly over the horse's withers, with his 

 legs hanging way in front of the animal's. The sad- 

 dle comes no farther rearward than the middle of the 

 back. The seat, owing to its width, is so uncomforta- 

 ble that the man is apt to ride sideways more often than 

 astride. 



Just where this trick originated it is hard to say. The 

 common Oriental habit is to get the load too far to the 

 rear. In fact, with donkeys it is usual for natives to ride 

 on the weakest part of the back, just over the kidneys, 

 because the place where the beast is most limber is the 

 easiest to the man. With the Greek we have the horse's 

 fore-legs loaded down to a dangerous extent, while the 

 haunches have less than their fair share of work. A 



