484 THE HORSE. 



denoting a Region of Snow, ascend from Hindu-koh in Caubul 

 to their greatest elevation, about 85 of longitude, and then 

 decline by the mountainous country of Bhootan to the valley 

 of the Brahmapootra. Beyond the highest crest of these 

 noble mountains lies the country of Thibet, stretching from 

 east to west nearly 2000 miles, and mostly bounded on the 

 south by a parallel chain of lower altitude. In this the 

 highest inhabited land of Asia, whence proceed its most 

 celebrated rivers, the Indus, the Ganges, the Brahmapootra, 

 are found Horses raised in such numbers as the rugged na- 

 ture of the country will permit the inhabitants to rear them. 

 They are small but sinewy, and agile in a wonderful degree. 

 They are employed by the natives for the saddle, and, along 

 with the Mule, the Sheep, and the Yak, to carry merchandize 

 through the terrible passes of the wild mountains that bound 

 the country on different sides. They are often party-coloured, 

 or, as we say, piebald. Accustomed to make bounds to over- 

 come the obstacles they encounter, they retain the habit when 

 harnessed, and demand some care in training. They are said 

 to fall off in spirit when brought to the plains of India ; but 

 yet they are greatly valued there, and a considerable exporta- 

 tion of them takes place to the northern provinces. They 

 extend westward into Caubul, but chiefly eastward by Bhootan 

 into China, where their characteristic colour appears among 

 the races of the lower country. They have extended along 

 the river Kiang, which, taking its rise in Thibet, flows east- 

 ward in a course of 3500 miles, until it falls into the sea at 

 the noble city of Nankin. 



Of the Horses of the Chinese, we can say little from any 

 certain knowledge obtained by us. The Chinese scarcely 

 make use of Horses except to fatten and eat them, although, 

 in the provinces bordering on Tartary and Thibet, they are 

 numerous. In one of the latter. Gutzlaff informs us, Horses 

 are so abundant, that even the women will scarcely stir from 

 their houses but on horseback. But although the Chinese are 

 themselves no horsemen, they maintain a numerous army of 



