ANIMALS. 485 



hands high ; and is not much larger than a common mastilT. It 

 would seem, that climates excessively hot are unfavourable to ■ 

 this animal. In this manner, the horses of the Gold- Coast, and 

 of Guinea, are extremely little, but very manageable. It is a 

 common exercise with the grandees of that countiy, who are 

 excellent horsemen, to dart out their lances before them upon 

 full gallop, and to catch them again before they come to the 

 ground. They have a sport also on horseback that requires 

 great dexterity in the rider, and a great share of activity in the 

 horse ; they strike off a ball, with a battledore, while they are 

 upon a full gallop, and pursuing it, strike it again before it comes 

 to the ground ; and this they continue for a mile together, strik- 

 ing sometimes to the right, and sometimes to the left, with 

 amazing speed and agility. 



The horses of China are as indifferent as those of India -. they 

 are weak, little, ill-shaped, and cowardly. Those of Corea ai'e 

 not above three feet high ; almost all the breed there are 

 made geldings, and are so timorous, that they can be rendered 

 no way serviceable in war ; so that it may be said, that the Tar- 

 tar horses were properly the conquerors of China. These, in- 

 deed, are very serviceable in war, and although but of a middle 

 size, yet they are surprisingly patient, vigorous, swift, and bold ; 

 their hoofs are extremely hard, though rather too narrow ; their 

 heads are fine, but rather too little; the neck is long and stiff; 

 the legs of the longest ; and yet, with all these faults, they are 

 foutid to be an excellent breed. The Tartars live with their horses 

 pretty much in the same manner as the Arabians do ; they begin 

 to back them at the age of seven or eight months, placing their 

 children upon them, who manage them even at that early age. 

 By these means they break them by little and little, till at last 

 about the age of six or seven years, they are capable of enduring 

 amazing hardships. Thus they have been known to march two or 

 three days without once stopping ; to continue five or sLx, with- 

 out eating any thing except a handful of grass at every eight 

 hours ; and, besides, to remain without drinking for four and 

 twenty hours. Those horses, which are so vigorous in their own 

 country, lose all their strength when they are brought into China 

 or the Indies ; but they thrive pretty well in Persia, and Turkey. 

 The race of little Tartars towards the north have also a breed of 

 little horses, which they set such a value upon, that it is forbid- 



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