LXVI 



Before we leave this interesting part of the world to 

 seek for oddities in riding among the Brahmans and the 

 Buddhists, let us cast a glance at a rider who, from our 

 childhood, has been known to us as a synonym of all that 

 is wild and terrible — the Cossack. 



Both Turkey and Russia have a large force of irregular 

 mounted troops. These are not for the most part in con- 

 stant service, but hold themselves in readiness to mobilize 

 at any moment. Such are the army corps of Kurdish 

 cavalry in Asia Minor ; and many of the Cossack troops 

 are agriculturists and soldiers at the same time. While 

 organized on substantially the same basis, so much heed 

 is paid to tribal habits that no two bodies of these troops 

 are quite identical. 



The boys of the Cossack villages from early youth look 

 eagerl}'' forward to their four years of active service, and 

 seek to ])repare for distinguishing themselves while in the 

 ranks. All Cossacks consider horses as their proudest 

 possession. They have plenty of them, and when he joins 

 his squadron the recruit is held to furnish everything but 

 his rifle. As against this he is allowed certain marked 

 privileges beyond the common peasantry who enlist in the 

 infantry, and what he loses in service is wont to be re- 

 placed by the Government. 



The training of the Cossack lad is a constant prepara- 

 tion for what is considered most valuable in their peculiar 

 tactics — that is, to throw his horse instantly, and use him 



