THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 225 



Irom the neighbouring countries of Arabia, Don- 

 gola, &c. 



There is a curious circumstance related by Burck- 

 hard, touching the manner in which the Egyptians set 

 about breaking a horse in the habit of biting. — " I have 

 seen vicious horses in Egypt cured of this, by present- 

 ing to them, while in the act of doing so, a leg ol 

 mutton just taken from the tire. The pain which a 

 horse feels in biting through the hot meat, causes 

 it, after a few lessons, to abandon the vicious habit." 



THE PERSIAN HORSES 



Have been celebrated for ages. Ancient liistory makes 

 frequent mention of the speed and excellence of the 

 Parthian cavalry, and that nation used to propitiate 

 the deity by sacrificing a Persian horse. They were 

 always in great requisition, and it would seem fur- 

 nished the east ages before the Arabian horses were 

 known, or perhaps existed. They show much blood, 

 and are taller than the Arabs, but this may arise from 

 the good pasture that is found in many parts of Persia. 

 The present race of horses in that country has not de- 

 generated from days of yore. 



In Turkistan there is a breed denominated Toorka- 

 mans, some of which, especially those of pure blood, 

 are held in equal estimation with the Persians : not 

 from their beauty or appearance, but from the speed 

 and inexhaustible spirit and courage they display under 

 the greatest fatigue. At first, their superiority is not 

 apparent, but on trial, their valuable qualities ai*e fully 

 displayed, and some have been purchased at three 

 hundred pounds a-piece. 



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