230 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



Tlie men sometimes place a straw mat under the blanket. 



Four sizes of saddles are issued to the light cavalry; 6 to the heavy. 



The surcingle is of black leather, and is fastened in the Mexican style by a thong and rings. 



The stirrups are of steel, with a large, round, fiat bottom, and a flat, thin, and deep arch ; 

 in winter a little mat of straw is tied to the bottom of the stirrup to protect the feet against 

 the cold. 



One shoe pouch, of black leather, is carried attached to the right side of the rear fork ; it 

 contains 2 shoes and 32 nails ; the nails are carried stuck in a species of circular pin cushion 

 made of plaited straw. 



Lance boot, small, and of leather ; one on each stirrup of lancers. 



The two holsters are strapped to the saddle ; two slits in the schabraque, which may be closed 

 by buckles, allow the i)istols to be drawn. 



Over the holsters are carried two bags of hair cloth, (called pack-tor nisters, ) about 1 foot square. 

 In the left hand bag are carried : razor, soap, shaving brush, looking-glass in wooden frame, 

 (4|" X 3",) hair comb, beard comb, wax for the moustache, thread of various colors, case of 

 needles, thimble, white wax, patches of cloth, buttons, pantaloon strajjs, spare rowels, button 

 loops, scissors, a curved and a straight awl, shoemakers' thread and wax, colophony, sight cover, 

 clothes brush, linen cap cover, iron halter ring with screw, whetstone, tooth brush, towel, a 

 pennon, J lb. bread, some oats, and on the outside a forage cap and tent pin. 



In the right hand bag are carried : curry-comb, horse brush, a coujole of cloths, a fleam, 

 paring knife, mane comb, five brushes for removing the mud, waxing, polishing, coloring, and 

 greasing the boots and horse equipment, (each brush 5" X 2|-",) wax of 3 kinds, cork stopper, 

 box of grease, brick dust, iron filings, box of chalk, button stick, brush for cleaning brass, 

 rotten stone, pumice stone, screwdriver, emery stick, patches of cloth, white chalk, bran, knife, 

 fork, spoon, salt, herbs, handles of the kettle, and slippers. 



These, with a few other articles that it is scarcely worth while to name, form a collection that 

 would do credit to a well supplied store, but seem to be rather too numerous for the good of the 

 horse. 



The valise is of cloth, and is strapped to the cantle ; in it are carried : 1 pair of pants, the 

 uniform coat, or spencer, the overalls when not in use, 2 shirts, 2 pairs of draws, 1 pair linen 

 cloths for wrapping the feet, 1 pocket handkerchief, 1 pair of gloves. 



The schabraque of cloth, witli black lamb's wool seat. 



Four men in each platoon carry a hatchet, strapped to the left holster. 



The bridle consists of a crown piece, brow band, throat latch, nose band, 2 cheek pieces, and 

 2 pairs of reins ; the front is ornamented by diagonal plaited cords, as in the Russian service ; the 

 cheek pieces are single where they buckle to the crown piece, and are sjflit below, the longer 

 end buckling to the curb bit, the shorter connecting with the snafile by a chain and toggle. 



Both bits are of steel ; there are 3 patterns of curbs, of diS'erent degrees of severity ; the curb 

 chain is also of steel. 



The reins buckle to ordinary bit rings. 



The halter has a plain head stall, and a rope 6' long, of the thickness of the little finger ; by 

 attaching the snaiSe bit, it becomes a watering bridle. 



On the march, the lialter is hung on the left side of the pommel. 



Two forage ropes are carried, hung to the cantle. 



