UNSHOD HOOFS. 7 



and vascular textures it encloses. In eastern countries, 

 where the climate is dry and the earth elastic and soft, 

 and where the equine species is usually wiry and firm in 

 its organization, with dense inflexible hoofs, an armature 

 of any kind is seldom, if ever, required. Not unfrequently, 

 however, we learn that the care and attention of the people 

 who so employ horses is bestowed on the quality and re- 

 sistance of the hoof; and as this has an important bearing 

 on our inquiry, we will notice a few of the authorities who 

 mention the fact. Thevenot informs us that the Persians 

 cared little for shoes for their horses ; ' the Ethiopians, 

 in the time of Ludolphus, although they seldom rode, 

 did not employ any defence for the hoofs, and v/hen 

 they had to travel over rough and stony ground, they dis- 

 mounted and sat on the backs of mules, leading their 

 horses in hand, so that these might tread lighter, and do 

 their hoofs less dam.age. 'They do not defend their 

 horses' hoofs with iron shoes ; if they travel over rough 

 and uneven ground, they lead them, and ride mules.' ^ 

 The same authority asserts that the Tartars, who ride so 

 much, never shod their steeds. ' In the winter time, 

 when, on account of the frost, roads are rough and hard, 

 they cover their horses' feet with the recently flayed hide 

 of cattle, if nothing else is at hand.' ^ 



A recent traveller in Abyssinia states that the horses 



' Voyages, vol. ii, p. 113. Paris, 1684. 



^ Joh. Ludolphus. Hist. iEdiiopic, vol. i. cap. 10. 'Ideo nee 

 ungulas eorum soleis ferreis muniunt : si per aspera et salebrosa loca 

 eundum fit, eos ducunt, ipsi mulis insidentes,' 



3 Ibid, in Commentario, p. 149. ' Tempore vero hyemis, viis ob 

 gelu asperis et duris, corio bourn, etiam recenti, si-aliud non suppetat, 

 pedes equorum suorum involvunt.' 



