490 THE HORSE. 



called the Caucasian character, mixed, however, with the 

 hardier aspect of the horses of the North. The modern in- 

 habitants of the same countries have likewise races of horses 

 of mixed lineage. The finest of the Turkish horses are de- 

 rived from the Asiatic provinces ; the most esteemed for the 

 saddle are obtained from the Syrian deserts and Arabia; and 

 the most robust and most active and useful from Servia, 

 Bosnia*, and the other provinces of the north. 



In Italy, the Horse had been subjugated from periods of 

 great antiquity; but the Romans were long contemptible 

 horsemen, and to the last never equalled the Asiatic riders. 

 Even Julius Caesar, we are informed by modern military offi- 

 cers, made such dispositions of his cavalry, as could only have 

 arisen from ignorance of the proper functions of this arm in 

 war. Of the character of the early horses of the Italians we 

 know nothing ; but the representations of the Horse, in a later 

 age, lead us to the conclusion, that the Romans cultivated a 

 stout and muscular horse, rather than one of much lightness 

 and elegance of figure. But during the luxury of the empire, 

 horses were necessarily derived from many sources, and 

 races of mixed lineage established. Of the native breeds, the 

 Tuscan and Etrurian were the most esteemed; of foreign 

 races, the Spanish and Sicilian were valued ; and, in a later 

 age, those of Barbary were introduced, to give greater light- 

 ness to the horses employed in the Circensian games. The 

 games of the Circus were established at an early period, and 

 included both horse and chariot races. The Circus Maxi- 

 mus, first built by Tarquinius Priscus, was an oblong of 

 three and a half furlongs in length, with rows of seats, one 

 above another, all round, capable, according to Pliny, of con- 

 taining 250,000 persons, and, according to modern measure- 

 ments, 380,000. Along the centre of the space ran a thick 

 low wall, at the ends of which were pyramidal columns, 

 rising from one base, termed Metae, round which the horses 

 and chariots turned. The race usually consisted of seven 

 rounds, equal to between seven and eight miles. The horse- 



