THE FIG. 35 



skin (which is mostly the case) these are erased by 

 pricking them here and there with a pin and running 

 the fingers along to press out the air, which leaves the 

 surface level as before the cruelty is practised. 



The horse is then treated to the indispensable " fig." 

 A. man leads him out, being closely followed by the 

 brute who has so recently and shamefully abused him 

 with the instrument of torture, which he still keeps 

 within range of the horse's eye. The confinement in 

 the dark stable makes him step high when brought 

 out into the dazzling light of open day, his ears move 

 in rapid succession, alternately up and down, and his 

 eyes flash wildly, as if in constant dread of a repetition 

 of the dose of ash-plant, as it is held in a threatening 

 attitude by the same hands who administered it in the 

 stable, His poor old bewildered head is cruelly chucked 

 up by the hand of the runner, on the severe curb bridle 

 and his tail is curled upwards by the sharp pain, pro* 

 ceeding from the dose of "fig" (ginger), which is snugly 

 ensconced in the cavity beneath it. In fact, his whole 

 appearance is so altered, that many a man, who may be 

 several degrees higher than a greenhorn, will declare 

 him to be a magnificent animal, full of fire and spirit. 



" How much for the Bobby?" asked two impudent- 

 looking horse-copers to a gentleman who had been pur- 

 chasing a very remarkable, good-looking nag horse, for 

 which he had just paid 45, and whose groom was lead- 

 ing it away from Preston fair, on the 6th January last 

 Were you speaking to me ?" said the gentleman. 



