GRACEFUL RIDING. 33 



lies north-east of the Caspian Sea ; but their tribes 

 are widely dispersed over Persia, Asia Minor, and 

 Syria. 



The Persians are great admirers of horsemanship, 

 and a bad rider affords them infinite amusement. 

 ** An officer of an Eno-lish friorate havino; eone ashore 

 to visit the envoy, and being mounted on a very 

 spirited horse, and a very bad rider, caused great 

 entertainment to the Persian populace. The next 

 day the man who supplied the ship with vegetables, 

 and spoke a little English, said to the officer, 

 * Don't be ashamed, sir, nobody knows you — 

 bad rider ! I tell them you, like all English, ride 

 well, but that time they see you very drunk ! ' 

 We were much amused at this conception of our 

 national character. The Persian thought it would 

 have been a reproach for a man of a warlike nation 

 not to ride well, but none for a European to get 

 drunk." "^ 



The Syrian horses are reared with the utmost 

 tenderness and care ; they are fondled and played 

 with like children. The Syrian horse is equally 

 good on mountainous, or stony ground, as on the 

 plain ; he is indefatigable, and full of spirit. The 

 Timarli ride horses of the Syrian breed, mostly from 

 their possessing these inestimable qualifications. 



* Vide " The Horse and his Rider." 

 C 



