HORSE-TAMING AND BREAKING 197 



wounds ; still, after my tall talk, it would not do 

 to let the Frenchmen crow, and the next morning- 

 saw me clad in leathers and boots, riding towards 

 the Daud Pacha Barracks, not very comfortable or 

 sanguine of success, but determined to try it on 

 coute que coute. A couple of Turkish soldiers, who 

 acted as my grooms, carried a couple of strong ropes, 

 a Ttoorgee, or Indian-felt saddle, and a bridle fitted 

 with an Arab bit, having a ring fastened to the end 

 of the curb, which goes over the lower jaw and gives 

 considerable additional purchase. Just before I sat 

 down to breakfast I sent my " chaoush " (Turkish 

 sergeant) to the commandant of the Turkish troops, 

 near at hand, with a request for a fatigue party of 

 twenty men, provided with spades and pickaxes, and 

 on their arrival I informed the company that I was 

 going to mount my new purchase, but that if any 

 gentleman would like to take precedence in the affair 

 I would be only too happy to cede him the honour. 

 " They were all backward in coming forward," as the 

 Game Chicken exclaimed when no one would try a 

 round with him, and two or three tried to dissuade 

 me from the attempt ; but my mind was made up, 

 and after breakfast I went down to the stable, accom- 

 panied by a crowd of officers and men. 



' I first directed the " Buono Johnnies " to take 

 off the roof, and then to break down the upper part 

 of the wall all round, until it was only four feet and 

 a half high, which operation was soon done. I then 



