WHIPS 157 



whips were the prizes. Edmondo di Amicis, in 

 his work " Holland " (1874), says: — 



" On our way back to Leuwarde we met some 

 peasants' carts drawn by those famous Friesland 

 horses, which are considered the best trotters in 

 the world. They are black with long necks, 

 heads small, and full of fire. . . . The races in 

 which these horses run, called the harddraveryen, 

 are very characteristic relics of ancient Frisia. 

 In every small town an arena is prepared, divided 

 into two parallel straight roads, on which the 

 horses run in pairs and successively, after which 

 the winners run each against the other till one is 

 victor over all and wins the prize." 



From this account it would seem that the 

 competing horses were " drawn " in couples on 

 the same lines as greyhounds for a coursing 

 match. 



Jockeys prefer a racing whip with a small 

 button, whereas gentlemen-riders prefer a "high 

 button," or, in plain language, a mushroom- 

 shaped one. A jockey's whip should be very 

 stiff. A " knout " usually has a bone handle, 

 and sometimes only a wooden one ; a leather 

 flap acts as a substitute for a thong. 



French whips are remarkably pretty, but, 

 according to our insular prejudices, they are 

 fanciful and have not the wearing qualities of 

 English ones. Both French and German drivers 

 hold whips high up, and consequently require 

 longer sticks than those we use. All whips used 

 in State processions come to a great deal of 

 money, because the handles are elaborately 



