12 



CHAPTER X 



TO ASCERTAIN THE AGE OF A HORSE 



I will now tell you how to distinguish age by the teeth. 



Every horse has six incisor teeth in the under, and six in the 

 upper jaw. The milk or temporary incisors are white, and as long 

 as these teeth are white, i.e., till the foal is two years old, it is called 

 a nakand. When the two centre milk-teeth in each jaw have been 

 superseded by permanent teeth, the foal is a three-year old 

 {do-yak).^ When the two milk-teeth flanking the new permanent 

 teeth, one on each side, have been superseded, the horse is a four- 

 year old {chdr-sdla). As a five-year old {panj-sdla), the corner 

 milk-teeth have fallen out. At that time, also, near the chawhd,^ 

 four other teeth, round and slender, make their appearance : these 

 are called tushes {neah). 



After five years, the age can be guessed only by the lessening of 

 the black in the black marks on the teeth. When these black 

 marks disappear altogether, the horse is called male-panj.^ After 

 that time, the age can be only approximately guessed by the 

 " tushes " and the general condition of the teeth. But also 

 examine the eyes : if the region of the eyes is bare of hair, only a 

 fool would call the horse anything but old. However, when a horse 

 has become a male-panj, it is no easy matter to fix its age. Even 

 experts go wrong. 



I have told you what I know, and what are known facts : other 

 things there are, mere fancies, that no expert acts on, and these 

 I have omitted to mention. What is necessary has been written. 



1 With the Hindus three is an unlucky number, but with the 

 Muslims, a lucky one. Perhaps the foal is called do-yak " 2 and 1," 

 instead of " three," to avoid mentioning the unlucky number. 



2 Ghawkd, " an aggregate of four," is apparently a term for the four 

 front teeth in man. The Zinat^ 'l-Khayl calls these rabd Hydt, which 

 in Arabic means the two teeth (one on each side) of the centre front 

 teeth, upper and lower, in a man ; but in a solid-hoofed animal the four 

 teeth (two on each side) of the two centre front teeth. 



^ Male-panj, i.e., ten years and upwards. According to Hashimi a 

 male-panj is twelve years and upwards. Native horses, however, are 

 frequently fed on soft food, which causes little wear and tear to the 

 teeth. 



