THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 171 



almost constantly in his sight, adorned in the most 

 sumptuous style. Their bridles were overlaid with 

 gold or enamel, a plume of heron's feathers was fixed 

 to the headstall, strings of jewels were hung round 

 the animals' necks, under which were fastened sule- 

 mans or onyx stones, highly prized on account of the 

 superstitions connected with them. The saddles were 

 likewise plated with enamel and gold, and set with 

 precious stones, the pummels being particularly rich. 

 The housings were of Kashmir shawls fringed with 

 gold, and the crupper and martingales were ornamented 

 in the same style as the other furniture. Even a cart- 

 horse sent him by the King of England, was dressed 

 out in the same fashion. His Majesty wished to make 

 a suitable return for the shawl tent, presented to him, 

 through Lord Amherst, by the old Lion of the Punjab, 

 and a very extraordinary selection was made, upon 

 whose advice is not known. A team of cart-horses, 

 four mares, and one stallion, were sent out from Eng- 

 land, under the notion that Runjeet would be glad to 

 rear a larger breed than the native Punjabees. But 

 the fact was, he cared only for showy saddle horses, 

 of high courage, well broken into the manege of Hin- 

 dustan, that he could ride himself, on parade, or on the 

 road, or set his favorites upon. Accordingly, when 

 the cart-horses arrived at his court, the stallion was im- 

 mediately put into the breaker's hands, and taught the 

 usual artificial paces. This animal, with its enormous 



