OTHER ASIATIC HORSES 35 



THE TURKISH HORSE 



This variety seems to be merely the Arab developed by higher food 

 into a larger size and more massive proportions. The horses of Constanti- 

 nople are often 16 hands in height, v/ith very elegant proportions and 

 a crupper more highly developed than that of the Arab. They are 

 said to be extremely docile, and the two specimens which I have seen 

 imported into this country certainly bore out this character, both of 

 them, though stallions, being as quiet as any English geldings. They 

 had very high crests and arched necks ; and this is said to be one of 

 the characteristics of the breed. In the records of the turf in this 

 country, many of the most celebrated sires are mentioned as Turks ; 

 but though imported from Turkey, it is very probable that some of 

 these were genuine Arabs. 



OTHER ASIATIC HORSES 



The Horses of Toorkistan are described by Sir R. K. Porter as 

 scanty in barrel, long in the leg, with ewe necks and large heads. When 

 crossed with those of Persia, they, however, are said by him to produce 

 a most magnificent animal, all elegance and elasticity, and of a stronger 

 form and somewhat larger size than the best Arabians. Sir Alexander 

 Burns attributes to them, on the other hand, a very high crest, and 

 large and bony though somewhat long bodies. He says, also, that in 

 Bokhara there is a breed of Kuzzak horses, sturdy and small, with shaggy 

 coats and very long manes and tails, much and deservedly admired. 



The Tartar Horses are small and narrow, with long necks, weak 

 legs, large heads, and light middles. Nevertheless they are described 

 as fast and untii'ing, and of the most hardy nature, so that they can 

 support themselves on a quantity and quality of food upon which even 

 our donkeys would starve. 



In various parts of Tartary horses are found in a wild state, and 

 present a rough inelegant form not unlike that of our New Forest 

 ponies. In them the characteristics of the domesticated Tartar horse 

 already described are exhibited in a marked manner, and there is every 

 reason to believe that the two breeds are identical, and that the ranks 

 of the latter are recruited from the enormous herds of wild horses which 

 are found in countless thousands on the edges of the vast deserts of 

 the country. They are generally of a red colour, with a black stripe 

 along the back, and manes and tails of the latter colour, but almost 

 always reddish at the roots of the dock and edges of the mane. The 

 Tartars eat the flesh both of the wild and domesticated horse, and 

 are said to cook the meat under their saddles. They also manufacture 

 a drink called koumiss from the milk obtained from the mare, which 

 is fermented and distilled into an intoxicating beverage. 



Visitors to the Health Exhibition in London will perhaps remember 

 a not very attractive corner of the grounds where these mares were 

 kept and attended to by natives not at all remarkable for cleanliness, 

 but in a condition fairly representative of their country. 



