THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 183 



The Persian cavalry was anciently the best in the 

 East, but the improved incomparable Arab breed 

 of horses was not then in existence. The modern 

 Persian horses seldom exceed fourteen, or fourteen 

 and a half hands high ; but, on the whole, they are 

 taller than the Arabs. Their usual fodder is barley 

 and chopped straw ; and they are fed and watered only 

 at sunrise and sunset, when they are cleaned. Their 

 bedding is horsedung, dried in the sun, and pulverized. 

 They are carefully clad in clothing suited to the 

 season, and in summer they are kept entirely under 

 shade during the heat of the day. At night, besides 

 having their heads secured with double ropes, the 

 heels of their hind legs are confined by cords of 

 twisted hair, fastened to iron rings and pegs, driven 

 into the earth. The same custom prevailed in the 

 time of Xenophon, and for the same reason : to secure 

 them from attacking, and maiming each other. As a 

 further precaution, their keepers always sleep on the 

 rugs amongst them ; but sometimes, notwithstanding 

 all this care, they break loose, and then the combat 

 ensues. A general neighing, screaming, kicking, 

 and snorting, soon rouses the grooms, and the 

 scene for a while is terrible. Indeed no one can 

 conceive the sudden uproar of such a moment, who 

 has not been in Eastern countries to hear it. They 



