202 CIVILIZATION AND SAVAGES. 



it, and in this case up to the man, probably the only 

 occasion on which they would do so. The colts follow, 

 and, in the little playful mischief of colts, poke their 

 noses into the sieve. In reward of this familiarity, 

 they should have been allowed a mouthful, if old 

 enough to eat ; if not, they should at least have been 

 permitted to satisfy their curiosity or whim : but no ! 

 a smack on the nose with the back of the hand will 

 be all the notice they get. They naturally run round 

 to the other side of the dam ; she, aware something 

 is the matter, draws back too, so both are repulsed. 

 We will suppose the man has entered the hovel, the 

 dam and colt after him : in her impatience to get her 

 feed, she probably forgets her colt's treatment, and 

 thrusts her nose into the sieve or manger before the 

 corn is properly spread in the latter : for this she gets 

 a blow from the hand, or perhaps sieve: she bolts 

 back, incurring the danger of hurting her colt, or, 

 likely enough, rushes out of the hovel at the risk of 

 hitting herself with one or other of the door-posts. 

 I do not say such is the conduct of all or the 

 generality of men intrusted with stock, but it is that 

 of many, while it never ought to be that of any. 

 There is nothing atrocious or really cruel in it ; but 

 it is the very reverse of what it should be : it is not, 

 at all events, the way to make a colt permit us to 

 use freedoms with him (to which he has been un- 

 accustomed), from having no fear that we shall not 

 do any thing to hurt him. I have mentioned this 

 incident as step the first to spoiling a colt's temper. 

 If any proof was wanting of the perfect domestication 

 to which the very highest bred horses may be brought, 

 an Arab tent and its inhabitants, with the mare 

 among them, would be sufficient. 



