108 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



the camel's hair, she squeezed it into the palm of her 

 dirty hand, and having tasted the liquor, presented it 

 to our lips." 



A recent traveller, Madame de Hell, gives a more 

 pleasing picture of the Calmucks, whom she saw 

 under favourable circumstances, being the guest of 

 one of their princes. The following is her account of 

 an equestrian entertainment she witnessed : 



" The moment we were perceived, five or six 

 mounted men, armed with long lassos (strong flexible 

 thongs with running nooses) rushed into the middle 

 of the taboon (herd of half wild horses), keeping their 

 eyes constantly fixed on the young prince, who was 

 to point out the animal they should seize. The 

 signal being given, they instantly galloped forward 

 and noosed a young horse with a long dishevelled 

 mane, whose dilated eyes and smoking nostrils be- 

 tokened inexpressible terror. A lightly-clad Calmuck, 

 who followed them on foot, immediately sprang upon 

 the stallion, cut the thongs that were throttling him, 

 and engaged with him in an incredible contest of 

 daring and agility. It would be impossible, I think, 

 for any spectacle more vividly to affect the mind than 

 that which now met our eyes. Sometimes the rider 

 and his horse rolled together on the grass ; sometimes 

 they shot through the air with the speed of an arrow, 



