4G HTNTS ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



from the horse's mouth entered the hands between the first 

 and second fingers from the thumbs ; were secured by the 

 grasp of the second, third, and fourth fingers, and by the 

 pressure between the first joints of the thumbs, and the 

 second joints of the second fingers; that the ends of the 

 reins, that is, the parts which form the loop at the centre of 

 the reins, quitted the hands at the fourth fingers ; not over 

 the first fingers, as with us in riding, but as they do with us 

 in driving. When the reins were placed both in one hand, 

 which appears to be done indifferently in either, the rein 

 proper to that hand remained as described ; the other was 

 not crossed, but placed flat on it, in the full grasp of the 

 hand, both ends quitting the hand at the fourth finger, the 

 same as with us in driving. This leaves the first finger 

 between the reins, which appears to be capable of more dis- 

 tinct indications on them than the fourth finger, as used in 

 the more barbarous after-ages. For the Greeks appear to 

 have used the tip of the first finger on either rein. Observe, 



