216 HORSEM AXSHIP. 



Ethiopians and inhabitants of India, as cavalry, 

 formed part of the expedition of Xerxes against 

 the Greeks. But it appears that the Arabs and 

 the Parthians, who afterwards became so famous 

 for their equestrian accomplishments, were ignorant 

 of the art at the period in question ; at least both 

 these nations fought under Xerxes, the former on 

 camels, and the latter on foot. The Persians were 

 more celebrated for their horses than for their rid- 

 ing. According to Athenseus, thej were more 

 solicitous of their ease and safety, than anxious for 

 reputation of boldness and dexterity in horseman- 

 ship. The Scythians and the Sarmatians were both 

 famous about this period, as well for their breed of 

 horses as for their skill in riding them. In fact, 

 so renowned were the former people, that, accord- 

 ing to Gribbon, they were supposed by strangers to 

 perform the ordinary duties of civil life on horse- 

 back ; "to eat, to drink, and even sleep, without 

 dismounting from their steeds." 



The people of Mauritania, Numidia, Massilia, 

 Nasamonia, and other adjacent parts, are also 

 spoken of as having possessed breeds of excellent 

 horses, but were still more distinguished for their 

 singular mode of managing them (on the authority 

 of Livy and Caesar) without the aid of a bridle, 

 and even in battle by means of a small switch or 

 wand, turning them to the left by striking on the 

 right side of the head, and vice versa ; and stopping 

 them by striking the front of the face. These 

 practices are also confirmed by Ausonius, who cele- 

 brates the Emperor Gratian as having excelled in 



