SHIRAZ TO BUSHIRE. 49 



and linen suddenly assumed the form and appearance 

 of a dashing horseman. He stabbed the lean sides 

 of his Kosinante with the heavy iron stirrups ; then 

 he dashed forward, and unslung his long heavy match- 

 lock. In the space of a few minutes, having kept his 

 horse circling at full gallop, he had disposed of any 

 amount of imaginary enemies. At some he pointed 

 his matchlock immediately over his horse's ears. 

 Others, again, were in close pursuit of him. At 

 these he levelled his matchlock, holding it parallel 

 to and immediately over his courser's streaming tail. 

 He threw himself to the right of his saddle, then to 

 the left ; he looked from under his horse's belly ; and 

 then he finally pulled up his smoking steed. He 

 looked so well pleased with himself, that I have not 

 the least doubt he laid the flattering unction to his 

 soul that he had imbued us with no small admiration 

 of his prowess ; and we could not but admit, seeing the 

 very stony and rough state of the ground, that the 

 performance, both on his own part and on the part of 

 his steed, was very creditable. But it was a relief to 

 us Avhen the evolutions had come duly to an end; 

 for the poor horse looked as if he had had quite 

 enough of it so much so that, at the completion of 

 the performance, the sharp cruel bit threw him so 

 completely on his haunches that I was prepared to 

 see the poor brute go rolling backwards down the 

 mountain-side. A small ruined tower, which they 

 called a guard-house, was close at hand. Here we 



VOL. VI- D 



