THE EAST IXDIAX HORSE. 3j 



small ponsideration where the heat is so great and the slightest exertion 

 fatiguing. 



A sale of horses near the Company's stud, at Hissar, is thus described 

 by an excellent judge :— ' Not less than one thousand horses were shown. 

 They were all above fourteen hands and a half in height, high- crested, 

 and showj^-looking animals. The great defect seemed a want of bone 

 below the knee, wliich is general to all the native horses throughout 

 India ; and also so great a tendency to fulness in the hocks, that, in Eno-. 

 land, it would be thought half of them had blood spavins.' '^ 



There are other studs in different parts of the country, in which some 

 valuable stallions are kept for the purpose of improving the various 

 Indian breeds. _ Almost all of them have a greater or lesser portion of 

 Arabian blood in them, Avhich gives them the appearance of good cavalry 

 horses, but renders them inferior to the Arabians generally in swiftnes.s 

 and always in endurance. For this reason the native cavalry are princi- 

 pally mounted on Arabian horses, which are brought in great numbers, 

 but of no considerable value, from Ar-abia and Syria. 



It may be readily supposed that it was not long before races were 

 established in the East Indies, and that they were properly patronised by 

 the government. They were, - however, confined almost entirely to the 

 Arabian horses, for those of half-blood were manifestly inferior to 

 them. 



]n 1828, Recruit, by Wlialebone, a horse of some celebrity at the time, 

 was sent out to Calcutta. This was deemed a proper opportunity to decide 

 the_ question of superiority between the pure Arab and the true English 

 racing blood, and he was matched against Pyramus, the best Arabian in 

 Bengal. The distance ^vas two miles, with give and take weights, fourteen 

 hands to carry nine stone, and the Arabian to be allowed seven pounds ; 

 Recruit carried ten stones twelve pounds, and Pyi-amus only eight stones 

 three pounds. They started well together, and ran the first part of the 

 distance neck and neck, but at about half the distance Recruit took the 

 lead, and the Arabian was beaten easily by several lengths. The distance 

 was run in three minutes and fifty-seven seconds. Ajiother trial took 

 place between Champion, a first-rate Arabian, and Constance, a moderately 

 good thoroughbred English horse. The Ai^abian won in a canter ; the 

 question, therefore, is thought by some persons to be yet undecided. 



There is an East Indian pony, called the Tattoo, varying from ten to 

 twelve hands in height. This is a serviceable and hardy animal for 

 cariying baggage or any light weight. Tavernier describes one which he 

 saw ridden by a young Mogul prince, of seven or eight years of age, and 

 which was not much larger than a greyhound. 



In 1765 one, not more than seven hands, or twenty-eight inches in 

 height, was sent from India as a present to the queen of 'George III. It 

 was taken from the ship to the palace in a hackney-coach. It was of a 

 dun colour ; and its hair resembled that of a young faw-n. It was four 

 years old, well proportioned, had fine ears, a quick eye, with a handsome 

 long tail, and was thoroughly good natured and manageable. 



The Mahrattas were two powerful tribes or nations, inhabiting the 

 central part of Hindoostan, and their territory extending from sea to sea 

 across the south of the Deccan. Their wars among themselves, or in union 

 with the British against Tippoo Saib, and afterwards against their former 

 protectors and allies, are prominent objects in the modern history of India. 

 Their troops consisted almost entirely of cavalry, composed of one of the 

 best varieties of the half-blood Arabian and nativo horse. The Mahratta 

 when not on horseback, may be said to be almost const&ntly employed in 

 sliampooing his horse. It is properly so called, for he rubs him violently 



