HISTORY. 483 



vourable to the production of the Horse. The tallest and 

 strongest are found in the northern provinces, in the coun- 

 tries near the Indus ; but towards the warmer countries of 

 the south and east, they fall off in strength and development 

 of parts. The Indian horses are generally of the smaller 

 class, seldom rising above fourteen and a half hands in height, 

 and mostly falling below that standard. They are showy 

 enough, but are deficient in bone, slim below the knee, and 

 often of bad temper. But there are prodigious numbers of 

 fine horses in India, chiefly of foreign lineage, either pure, or 

 mixed with the native races. There is a constant trade in 

 these animals going on from Persia, Caubul, and even Bok- 

 hara ; and a continued importation from Arabia to Bombay 

 and other parts of the coast. This is due to European indi- 

 viduals and the wealthier natives ; and the East India Com- 

 pany has long employed active means to improve the indige- 

 nous races by the establishment of studs, with the especial 

 design of being enabled to procure horses for their numerous 

 cavalry. In this manner are superior horses introduced, and 

 the races of the country preserved from deterioration. 



In India are various races of diminutive horses or Ponies, 

 some of which have apparently acquired the characters proper 

 to them in the high lands and deserts of the interior of the 

 country itself, amongst which are the small coarse race 

 termed Tattoos, valued by the natives for their hardiness, 

 and power to subsist on common fare. Others are derived 

 from the mountainous tract which lies between the plains of 

 India and the crest of the great Himalaya range, forming 

 the country of Nepaul and others, westward to beyond the 

 Sutludj. This is a region somewhat like Switzerland, but 

 more bold and rugged. It produces a great number of moun- 

 tain ponies, stout, and capable of sustaining drudgery and 

 hard usage. To the ponies of these mountains the natives 

 of India apply the term Tang-huns, which is likewise appli- 

 cable to the party-coloured race of Thibet. 



The Himalaya mountains, so named from the Sanscrit, 



