228 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



Pallas writes of the Cossacks of Ja'ik (Orembourg), 

 that their horses are not shod, because the dry soil in- 

 duces them to have very fine and very hard hoofs.' 



Wood, who travelled in Turkestan six centuries 

 later, informs us that the Uzbeks shod their horses on 

 the fore-feet, ' and the shoes are in shape a perfect cir- 

 cle.' ^ 



In one of the oldest Astrakan Tartar songs, composed 

 towards the end of the 14th century, entitled 'Adiga,' and 

 written in the Nogay-Tartar dialect, the extravagant 

 fashion of shoeing is alluded to. A Mongol Khan was 

 jealous of Adiga, a Tartar chief, who was in consequence 

 compelled to fly to the desert. He was brought back, how- 

 ever, and offered a numerous stud of mares, that he might 

 drink kumiss, and have the meadows of Karaday for the 

 pasture of his hunting-horses, where they would be made 

 fat as 'lions' thighs.' The Mongol, full of wrath because 

 he would not accept this splendid offer, ordered many 

 horses to be killed and a great quantity of mead to be 

 brewed, in order to feast all the tribes whom he wished 

 to assemble in conference before going to war with Adiga's 

 people. None of his nobles could advise him ; but they 

 referred him to a sage named Sobra, who lived some dis- 

 tance off, and who could give advice. ' If so,' said the 

 Mongol, ' then bid the horse be put to my golden chariot 

 {hus). Let the horses be shod with golden shoes and silver 



par la gelee ou par la neige, les Tartares consent sous les pieds de leurs 

 chevaux des morceaux de vieille corne, alin de les empecher de glisser 

 et d'empecher I'usure des pieds.' 



' Voyages, vol. ii. p. 107. ' On ne les ferre pas, parce que le sol 

 sec leur procure un sabot tres-beau et tres-dur.' 



' Journey to the Source of the Oxus. 



