THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 113 



leather, fastened together by a leathern girdle, to 

 which the whole veterinary apparatus, and a variety 

 of little fanciful ornaments, are usually appended. 

 His head is protected by a high cylindrical Tartar cap, 

 of black lambskin ; and over the whole he throws his 

 sreeta, a large, brown, woollen cloak, with a hood to 

 cover his head. This hood, in fine weather, hangs 

 behind, and often serves its master at once for pocket 

 and larder. 



The tabunshick has a variety of other trappings, of 

 which he never divests himself. Among these, his 

 harabnick holds not the least important place. This is 

 a whip, with a thick short stem, but with a thong often 

 fifteen or eighteen feet in length. It is to him a 

 sceptre that rarely quits his hand, and without which 

 it would be difficult for him to retain his riotous 

 subjects in anything like proper order. Next comes 

 his sling, which he uses like the South American lasso, 

 and with which he rarely misses the neck of the horse 

 whose course he is desirous of arresting. The wolf 

 club is another indispensable part of his equipment. 

 This club which mostly hangs at the saddle, ready for 

 immediate use, is three or four feet long, with a thick 

 iron knob at the end. The tabunshicks acquire such 

 astonishing dexterity in the use of this formidable 

 weapon, that, at full gallop they will -hurl it at a wolf, 



