SLACK REINS. 235 



the animal was going to do under such circumstances. The 

 intelligence of, and help given by, South American horses 

 to their riders when lassoing or. throwing the bolas is one 

 of the most interesting and instructive sights that could be 

 witnessed. Out pig-sticking over the black cotton soil 

 in the Central Provinces of India, which has numberless 

 holes and fissures on its surface and across ground covered 

 with large loose stones, such as at Paunchgawn near 

 Nagpore, and over the low hills close to Allahabad, a 

 rider cannot avoid a fall, if he goes straight, unless he is 

 on an experienced pig-sticker and allows perfect freedom 

 to its head. If he does this, the clever animal will pick 

 its way, almost at racing pace, over holes and stones without 

 making a mistake. Here also, the rider has to watch the 

 pursued one, so as to be prepared for every "jink." It is 

 evident that when a horse has to gallop over ground such 

 as I have described, or after cattle out stock-driving, no rider 

 who keeps a tight hold of the reins could possibly avoid inter- 

 fering with his horse's mouth, and consequently bringing them 

 both to grief ; for the animal, when picking its way, would have 

 to lengthen or shorten its stride, turn or stop, quicker than its 

 rider could foresee. The old school of hunting men in Ireland 

 used to ride with slack reins. The hounds ran slow, and the 

 men preferred to watch the hunting, than to devote their 

 attention to jealous riding; so they left the horses to do 

 their work without assistance. A high degree of sagacity was 

 developed in them by trusting to their honour, and making 

 them use their intelligence, without expecting assistance from 

 their riders at every turn. Hence arose that peculiar clever- 

 ness possessed by the old Irish hunters, such as Signal, Fencer, 

 Whisky, and Mickey Free, which were famous in Muskerry 

 many years ago. 



We frequently meet with instances of extraordinary clever 

 horses being very impetuous, some of which will brook no inter- 



