l82 



MONGOL CAVALRY. 



peculiar stage of civilisation, held warfare in ab- 

 horrence and regarded it as the greatest curse. On 

 the other hand, the restless, wild inhabitant of the 

 cold plains of what is now called Mongolia, inured 

 to hardship, Avas ever ready for the foray and the 

 raid. He had little to lose in case of misfortune, 

 but if successful he carried off the accumulated 

 labour of many generations. 



Such were the conditions which impelled the 



MoNcui, Сл\А1.к\ (hum a ПкЯи^гарЬ IciiL !•> liciiuii (Jsteii Sackeii). 



nomads towards China, and the border of their plateau 

 served as an admirable vantage-ground for their 

 aggressions. Here v/hole hordes would assemble, and 

 hence they would suddenly pour into the enemy's 

 country. History has recorded several irruptions 

 of tliis kind, from the Mongolian side as well as 



