Z FABAS-NAMA-E RANGIN 



upon mj Book of the Horse [Fars-Ndma] ; they were delighted with 

 its contents^ for they were ever fond of horses and riding. Laugh- 

 ingly they asked me why I had written it in prose^ and added, 

 " To please us, write it in verse." When they pressed me on the 

 matter, I yielded against my will, and turned it into verse. 



Let a blessing abide in every abode that possesses a stable for 

 a steed ! 



CHAPTER II 



ON THE POINTS (WASF) OF HOKSES 



You should first read the chapter Al-'Adiydt ^ or " the Chargers," 

 in which God has taken an oath by horses. The Prophet loved 

 horses, and so, too, did 'All the Chosen ; for no animal surpasses 

 the Horse — unless, indeed, it be Man. Every person of under- 

 standing knows that horses are the noblest of animals. Now the 

 reader must know that there are five kinds of defects in horses, 

 which I will describe in detail, in five sections. The worst defect 

 of all is that in the ''feathers" {hhaunrl) ; next is spavin [haddd) 

 and bog- spavin (motard). After that comes defective and ugly 

 conformation [qabdhat surat hi) ; then bad colour ; and lastly ill- 

 manners {qahdhat dhang ki). 



CHAPTER III 



ON "FEATHERS" 



In the first section I will describe the various "feathers" in horses. 



If there be only one whorl- in the centre of the forehead, it is 

 not to be regarded as an ill mark ; but if there be two on the 

 forehead avoid that horse and do not dream of buying it. 



If there be three, or four, or five, feathers on the forehead, it is 

 equally inauspicious. Mughals call them khosha,^ and will not even 



1 Lit. " running horses," i.e., swift horses. 



2 In the Zinaf^ 'l-Khayl called agni " fire." 



3 Khosha, " a bunch of grapes, an ear of com, &c," 



