32 FOREIGN BREEDS OF HORSES. 



with bis ^vl■ists and elbows, as well as bis bands, and moulds and bends 

 bis limbs in every direction. Tbe Mabrattan way of riding is a singular 

 and, according to European notions, a very ungraceful one. His knees are 

 as bigb as bis borse's back ; be bolds on w4tb bis beels, and clings witb 

 bis bands eitber to tbe mane or tbe peak of tbe saddle. With such aids, 

 his seat is more secure than at first sight it would appear to be. Tbe peak 

 of the saddle rises in the form of a crane's neck, and is said to have been 

 borrowed from tbe Moguls. A crupper and a martingale are almost indis- 

 pensable accompaniments of the Mahratta horse-furniture. It is a singular 

 kind of crupper, however, not projecting from the centre of tbe saddle, 

 but attached to both sides. The tohsa, or leathern vessel out of which the 

 horse eats his corn, is also attached to the crupper, and this part of the 

 trappings is generally ornamented vnih silver knobs, or Avith silk tassels 

 or embroidery. 



Their horses, like most of those in tbe East, are picketed, not only 

 during the day, but very frequently in tbe night. A rope is carried from 

 the head-stall on each side to a peg driven into the ground. A rope, or 

 thong, is also tied round the fetlocks behind, and carried backwards twenty 

 or thirty feet, and fastened to a peg. This pulls tbe horse back, and keeps 

 him, when standing, on the stretch, but does not prevent him from lying 

 down. Wlien they are thus tethered, their eyes are covered, that they 

 may not be alarmed by any object that passes. They are also clothed, in 

 order that tbe beautiful, glossy appearance of their coat may be preserved. 

 They use tbe snaffle-bridle, but it is so jagged and pointed that the 

 animal may be punished to the full content of any barbarian that may ride 

 him. Tbe headstall is usually ornamented, and from the rein a thong 

 descends by which the horse may be occasionally reminded of bis duty. 

 The horseman has neither whip, SAvitch, nor spur, but the horse is con- 

 trolled, if he is disposed to rebel, by tbe cruel argument of the bit. 



The breast of the Mahratta horse is more splendidly ornamented than 

 any other part. Numerous coins, of different size and value — rupees and 

 double rupees — are formed into plates more or less highly ornamented, and 

 Avbich in time of Avar form a rich booty for tbe conqueror. Tbe mane, too, 

 is generally plajted Avitb silk-braids, and silver knobs attached to them, 

 with a beautiful top-knot betAveen the ears. If tbe rider has distinguished 

 himself in Avar, some curious tails, said to be taken from the wild cow, 

 dangle on either side. 



THE BIRMAN AND CHINESE HORSE. 



Tbe Bbman horses are small, but spirited and strong. There Avas one 

 in 1842 in the menagerie belonging to the Zoological Society of London. 

 He did not stand more than tAvelve bands high, but was a beautiful little 

 felloAV, and a picture of strength. 



In SiAM the horses are fcAV,' and inferior to those of the Birman empire. 

 • In Cochin-China, on the eastern coast of tbe peninsula, the horses are 

 still small, but they are better formed, and more active and strong, than 

 they are at Siam. In Suaiatra and Java the horses have not increased 

 in size, but in form and usefulness they scarcely yield to any in the soutb- 

 Avest of Asia. In Borneo they are fcAv, and scarcely deserving of notice. 

 The horses of China are, generally speaking, small, ill-formed, weak, and 

 AAHtbout spirit ; indeed they have bttle occasion for tbe horse in the greater 

 part of that immense empire. 



THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE. 

 The ncAV colonies of tbe British in Australia and its dependencies Avill 

 present something more satisfactory. Tbe greater part of tbe horses m 



