THE SWEDISH HORSE. 51 



middle is a jet of water. Slabs or tables of marble occupy every side 

 and a slight incHnation of the floor permits the observance of the o-reatest 

 possible cleanhness. An upper story serves for the manufactui-e of diffe- 

 rent kinds of cheese, which are made in imitation of, and sometimes equal 

 those which are most esteemed in other parts of Em-ope. 



There is another space or court inclosed with walls, and with little 

 buildmgs closed Avith iron bars. This is destined to be a menagerie lor 

 bears of the rarest and most beautiful colours, and yielding the°choicest 

 furs. This speculation is a very profitable one. A cub of six months 

 old, with black hair pointed with silver white, yields a very light skin and 

 fur, and which will obtain a considerable price, especially if there are 

 others of the same fineness and variegated colour suflicient to make a pe- 

 lisse. _A garment of this kind will sometimes be sold for 6001. or lOOOZ. 

 The skins of the old bears are employed for carpets, or finings of carriages' 

 and the most supple of them form the clotliing of the coachmen. ' 



The stud of the Russian Countess Orlofi" Tshesmensky in the province 

 of Walonese contains 1320 horses, Ai-abs, EngHsh, natives and others. 

 The ground attached to it amounts to nearly 1100 acres ; and the number 

 of grooms, labourers, and others is more than 4000. The sum reahsed by 

 the sale of horses is of considerable annual amount ; and they are dis- 

 posed of not only on the spot itself, but in the regular markets, both of 

 St. Petersburg!! and Moscow. 



THE ICELAND HORSE. 

 There are numerous troops of horses in this cold and inhospitable coun- 

 try, descended, according to Mr. Anderson, from the N'orweo-ian horse 

 but, according to Mr. Horrebow, being of Scottish origin. They are very 

 small, strong, and STvdft. There are thousands of them in the mountains 

 which never enter a stable : but instinct or habit has taught them to 

 scrape away the snow, or break the ice, in search of their scanty food. A 

 few are usually kept in the stable ; but Avhen the peasant wants more he 

 catches as many as he needs, and shoes them himself, and that sometimes 

 with a sheep's horn. 



THE LAPLAND HORSE. 

 Tliis animal, according to Berenger, is small, but active and willing- 

 somewhat eager and impatient, but free from vice. He is used only in 

 the Avinter season, Avhen he is employed in drawing sledges over the snow 

 and transporting wood, forage, and other necessaries, which in the summer 

 are all conveyed in boats. Dm-ing the summer these horses are turned 

 mto the forests, where they form themselves into distinct troops and 

 select ceftam districts from which they rarely wander. They return of 

 their own accord when the season begins to change, and the forests no 

 longer supply them Avith food. 



THE SWEDISH HORSE 



Is small, but nimble and willing. He is almost entirely fed on bread 

 composed of equal parts of rye and oatmeal. To this is added a consider- 

 able quantity of salt, and, if he is about to start on a long journey a Httle 

 brandy. 'While changing horses,' writes Sir A. Brooke in his Traveh- 

 in Stueden, ' we were not a little entertained at the curious group formed 

 by the peasants and theii- steeds breakfasting together ; both cordially 

 partakmg of a large hard rye cake. The horses sometimes belono- to 

 three or even more proprietors ; it is then highly amusing to observe°the 

 frequent altercations between them, each endeavouring to spare his own 

 horse. Theii- afi'ection for their horses is so great that I have seen them 

 shed tears when they have been driven beyond their streno-th 



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