384 PERSIAN HORSES 



like saddle, with very short stirrups, and employ a severe 

 bit. The Circassians also ride in a straw-covered saddle, 

 but with an exceptionally high cantle and pommel, and 

 with extra long stirrup-leathers, forked-radish or cowboy 

 style. The Cossack again rides with short stirrup, as well 

 as the Persian, and neither the latter nor the Circassian 

 uses, as a rule, a bit, but a simple rope halter ; while the 

 Cossack uses an easy bit. Wherever the Arabian is in 

 his glory you find substantially the same seat, already 

 described ; as soon as you wander away from the Arabian 

 type you find as great a variety of equine habits as of 

 dress. 



The Persian horse, although a neighbor, appears to be 

 a creature of quite different blood. He is taller and leg- 

 gier than the Arabian, and has comparatively little stam- 

 ina. The Kurds and Turcomans use a horse which is said 

 to be the produce of Arabian sires on Persian dams, and 

 this horse seems to gain the endurance of the desert blood, 

 which it sadly needs. One does not expect much from 

 Persians, and the horse corresponds to one's notions. 



To wander for a moment while on the subject of Persia, 

 it is said that when available funds run short in that 

 despot-ridden land, the governors of the several provinces 

 are paid by a firman granting them control of a given 

 number of lashes. A viceroy is appointed with a salary 

 and emoluments of, say, four thousand lashes per annum, 

 lie reaches his capital, and after making himself agree- 

 able to his new subjects and getting settled in his duties, 

 which are generally confined to ascertaining out of whom 

 he can squeeze moneys, he sends word to the rich men 

 of his district that he shall begin to apportion his salary. 

 " To you, M. or N., of the wisdom and generosity of His 

 Most Gracious Majesty the Shah, whom Allah preserve ! 

 and of mv own loving-kindness, I award but two hundred 



