THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 129 



tolerable, and shade is nowhere to be found, save what 

 the animals can themselves create, by gathering 

 together in little groups, each seeking to place the 

 body of his neighbour between himself and the burning 

 rays of a merciless sun. The tabunshick often lays 

 himself in the centre of the group, for he also has 

 nowhere else a shady couch to hope for. 



The autumn again is a season of enjoyment. The 

 plains are anew covered with green, the springs yield 

 once more an abundant supply of water, and the 

 horses gather strength at this period of abundance, to 

 prepare themselves for the sufferings and privations of 

 winter. In autumn, for the first time in the year, the 

 taboon is called on to work, but the work is not much 

 more severe than the exertions which the restless 

 creatures are daily imposing upon themselves, while 

 romping and rioting about on the Steppe. The work 

 in question is the thrashing of the corn. 



A thrashing-floor, of several hundred yards square, 

 is made, by cutting away the turf, and beating the 

 ground into a hard, solid surface. The whole is 

 enclosed by a railing, with a gate to let the horses in 

 and out. On such a floor, supposing the taboon to 

 consist of a thousand horses, five hundred score of 

 sheaves will be laid down at once. The taboon is then 

 formed into two divisions, and five hundred steeds 



