136 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



The Beys, who are present, encourage them ; and 

 whoever breaks the earthen vessel, which serves by 

 way of butt, receives great commendations, and a 

 reward in money. They practise also the use of the 

 sabre, and especially the coup de revers, which cuts 

 upwards, and is the most difficult to parry. Their 

 blades are so keen, and they handle them so well, that 

 many of them can cut a clew of wet cotton like a 

 piece of butter. They likewise shoot with bows and 

 arrows, though they no longer use them in battle. 

 But their favorite exercise is throwing the djereed. 

 This word, which properly means a reed, is generally 

 used to signify any staff thrown by the hand, after the 

 manner of the Roman pilum. Instead of a staff, the 

 Mamelukes make use of branches of the palm tree, 

 fresh stripped ; they are in form like the stalk of an 

 artichoke, are four feet long, and weigh five or six 

 pounds. Armed with these, the cavaliers enter the 

 lists, and, riding full speed, throw them at each other 

 from a considerable distance. The assailant, as soon 

 as he has thrown, turns his horse, and his antagonist 

 pursues and throws in his turn. The horses, accus- 

 tomed to this exercise, second their master so well 

 that they seem also to share in the pleasure. But the 

 pleasure is attended with danger ; for some can dart 

 the djereed with so much force as frequently to wound, 

 and sometimes mortally. Ill-fated was the man who 

 could not escape the djereed of Ali Bey !" 



