92 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



more farriers in this country than in any other ; though, 

 to speak properly, there are none at all.' ^ 



Captain Sherard Osborne, describing the equipment 

 his steed carried on a journey, amongst many other arti- 

 cles notes ' a string of the copper coin of the country, far 

 too cumbrous for the pocket ; a clothes-brush and fly- 

 flap ; a paper waterproof coat ; a broad-brimmed tile for 

 heavy rain or strong sunlight ; and lastbj, a bundle of 

 spare straiu shoes for the horse' A noble's horse is thus 

 painted : ' It is, indeed, a gorgeous creature ; its headstall 

 richly ornamented with beautiful specimens of Japan skill 

 and taste in casting, chasing, and inlaying in copper and 

 bronze, the leather perfectly covered with these ornaments. 

 The frontlet has a golden or gilt horn projecting. The 

 mane is carefully plaited, and worked in with gold and 

 silver, as well as silken threads. The saddle, which is a 

 Japanese imitation in leather, lacquer, and inlaid bronze, 

 of those in use amongst the Portuguese and Spaniards in 

 the days of Albuquerque, is a perfect work of art, and 

 only excelled in workmanship, weight, and value by the 

 huge stirrups. The reins are of silk ; a rich scarlet net of 

 the same material hangs over the animal's shoulders and 

 crupper. The saddle-cloth is a leopard's skin ; and lastly, 

 as a perfect finish, the long switch tail is encased in a 

 blue-silk bag reaching nearly to the ground ; whilst^ in- 

 stead of the shoes being of ordinary straw, they are made 

 of cotton and silk interwoven.' ^ 



And Sir Rutherford Alcock writes : ' Refreshed by our 

 breakfast, we began to turn inland to the screen of hills 



' Hisloire du Japan. Amsterdam, 1732. 

 ' Japanese Fragments, p. 97. 



