WARRANTING. 199 



lowing a man to try your horse. A friend of mine 

 had a chesnut Arab for sale. A purchaser called to 

 inspect him ; he appeared to suit ; was sound, wind 

 and limb ; fresh, unscarred, and four years old ; price 

 1,200 rupees. " I like him much," said the purchas- 

 er ; " might I throw my leg over him ?" " Yes," 

 said my friend, " ride up and down here as long as 

 you wish, in my presence." He mounted ; walked, 

 trotted, and cantered ; the action was good in every 

 respect. You imagine, perhaps, the horse was sold. 

 No, he now discovers two objections ; he did not want 

 a chesnut, he wanted a grey ; and he did not like to 

 go to so high a price as 1,200 rupees. The chap 

 ought to have been forced to take him. I wonder 

 how an imposition of this kind would be decided at 

 law ? If fifty heavy men were to play this trick on a 

 slight blood Arab, his action, of course, would be 

 none the better for it. 



Having recommended you, as a seller, never to 

 warrant, and consequently, in equal fairness, as a 

 buyer, never to ask for a warranty, there is the 

 greater reason in the latter case for you to proceed 

 with caution, and if distrustful of your own judgment, 

 to have a friend with you. When, therefore, a horse 

 is brought out for inspection, if the appearance, figure, 

 limbs, &c., do not satisfy, make your conge, but do not 

 abuse another man's property when at sale. If you 

 are pleased, and fully certain that it is a horse you 

 want ; that the colour and price will suit, and that 

 you have got the money ready to pay, take ten mi- 

 nutes' examination or allow your friend to do it for 

 you, then solicit five minutes for a walk, trot, and 

 canter ; in a quarter of an hour let your decision be 

 final : if undisturbed by the owner, this is ample. In 



