228 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



the distance was about forty-seven miles. The Eng- 

 lish horse (Sharper) , carried off' the palm ; the other 

 (Mina), fell lame. In Ukraine, Tartary, the wild 

 horses are rather unmanageable, and not easily tamed. 

 Their food is exposed for public sale. The foal's flesh 

 is very tender, and as white as veal. The older ani- 

 mals eat very like beef. 



THE AFRICAN HORSES 



Are not held in such estimation as those of Asia. 

 Some in Dongola are mentioned by the traveller Bos- 

 man, who reckons them as fine and symmetrical as 

 any in the world, and particularly swift in their mo- 

 tions : one of this breed was purchased at Cairo for a 

 sum valued at one thousand pounds sterling. 



In central Africa there are herds of wild horses, as 

 in Tartary. The kingdom of Barnon has a fine speci- 

 men, of which travellers speak in high terms. In the 

 northern provinces, the Barb is much esteemed; in 

 form and beauty his is superior to the Arab, but wants 

 his courage, perseverance, and speed, nor is he so tall, 

 being seldom more than fourteen hands high. The 

 Barb first contributed to the excellence of the European 

 studs. On the east and west coast, the horses are ge- 

 nerally weak, small, and vicious. Towards the south, 

 and in the Cape colony, the breed is excessively su- 

 perior, and the horses very fine, strong-built, and 

 handsome : many are exported hence to the East 

 Indies. The great African traveller, Mr. Bruce, after 

 speaking of the horses of the country, and the perti- 

 nacity of the inhabitants, in asserting that they are all 



