112 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



would become entirely ungovernable. When driven 

 through towns and villages, the creatures are often 

 frightened ; but that occasions no trouble to their 

 drivers, for the herd is never more certain to keep toge- 

 ther than when made timid by the appearance of a 

 strange place. In the market-place the taboon is 

 driven into an enclosure, near which the owner seats 

 himself, and the tabunshick enters along with his 

 horses. The buyers walk round to make their selec- 

 tion. They must not expect the horses to be trotted 

 out for their inspection, as at Tattersall's, but must 

 judge for themselves as well as they can, with the 

 comfortable reflection, that, after they have bought the 

 animals, they will have ample time to become acquaint- 

 ed with them. " I have none but wild horses to sell," 

 the owner will say. " Look at them as long as you 

 please. That horse I will warrant five years old, hav- 

 ing bred him on my own Steppe. Further than that I 

 know nothing of him. The price is a hundred rubles. 

 Will you take him ? If you say yes, I'll order him to 

 be caught ; but I'd advise you to make the tabunshick 

 a present, that he may take care not to injure the ani- 

 mal in catching it." This last caution is by no means 

 to be neglected, for a horse, carelessly caught, may be 

 lamed for several weeks ; and as the horse is never 

 caught till the bargain has been concluded, any injury 

 done to the animal is the buyer's business not the 

 seller's. If, on the other hand, the tabunshick be 



