30 FORi:iGX BREEDS OF HORSES. 



not doubt must have been chosen from the best in the nation to exhibit 

 the perfection of its breed before the sovereign. The rival horses were 

 divided into three sets, in order to lengthen the amusement. They had 

 been in training for several weeks, going over the ground very often 

 during that time ; and when I did see them, I found so much pains had 

 been taken to sweat and reduce their weight, that their bones were nearly 

 cutting the skm. The distance marked for the race was a stretch of a four- 

 and-twenty miles, and, that his majesty might not have to wait when 

 he had reached the field, the horses had set forward long before, by three 

 divisions, from the starting point, (a short interval of time passing between 

 each set,) so that they might begin to come in a feAv minutes after the king 

 had taken his seat. The different diA-isions arrived in regular order at the 

 goal, but all so fatigued and exliausted that their former boasted fleetness 

 hardly exceeded a moderate canter when they passed before the royal 



The plains of Persepolis, ^ledia, Ardebil and Derbanc, rear annually a 

 great number of valuable horses, but those bred in Kurdistan are accounted 

 the best both in beauty and strength. 



THE CIRCASSIAN HORSE. 



The Circassian horse, although inferior to the Persian, does not often 

 find his equal among the predatory hordes with wliich this part of Asia 

 abounds. Vast numbers of horses and sheep are reared in the plains of 

 Circassia, and they and the slaves which are made in the excursions 

 form the piincipal articles of the commerce of the natives. Ahnost every 

 family of distinction aims at possessing a peculiar breed of horses, excell- 

 ing, in their estimation, that of any other tribe. Each breed is distin- 

 guished by its peculiar mark, to forge or to place which on an inferior 

 breed woiild be punished with death. The most valuable breed of all is 

 in the possession of the reigning family, and its distinguisliing mark is a 

 full liorse-shoe. These horses possess considerable strength and speed. 



THE EAST INDIAN HORSE. 



We Avill now travel further eastward, and examine the breeds of liorses 

 in our Indian possessions. They are small, and, although some have 

 considerable endurance and courage, they wear the general character of 

 degeneracy from a nobler stock. First in value is the Toorhj, originally 

 from a Toorkoraan and a Persian, beautiful in his form, graceful in his 

 action, and docile in his temper. When skilfully managed his carriage 

 is stately and grand. His spirit rising as his exertions are required, he 

 exhibits to his beholders an appearance of fury in the performance of his 

 task, yet preserving to his rider the utmost playfulness and gentleness. 

 They are usually from fourteen to fifteen hands high, and have the common 

 defect of the East India horse — smallness and length of bone below the 

 knees and aboiit the hocks. 



Next comes the Iranee, well limbed, and his joints closely knit, and 

 particularly powerful in the quarters, but with large head, and hanging 

 cars, and deficiency of spirit. 



The gentle and docile Goznl-eo is deep in the girth, powerful in the 

 fore-arm, but with large head and cat-hammed ; hardy, and calculated for 

 long journeys and severe service. 



The Mojinniss have spirit, beauty, speed, and perseverance. 



The Tazsee is slight, hollow-backed, and, for that reason perhaps, de- 

 ficient in strength. His hind-legs are ill placed, and dragged as it were 

 behind him, and he is stubborn and irritable; yet this horse is sought 

 after on account of the peculiar easiness of his paces, a matter of no 



