THE HORSE. 



A War Horse. 



' V/ //i, ^ 



Calmuck Marriage Ccromony. 



The Arabian Horse is of slender make, and beautifully limbed, and seldom exceeds fourteen hands ic 

 height. The fondness for their horses which the Arabs manifest partakes of the extravagance of Oriental 

 feelings. They rear them up in their tents among their children and family, and they caress them and 

 apply to them the most endearing epithets. 



Next to the Arabs there are few people fonder of horses than the Calmuck Tartars, who possess a very 

 fine breed. Among these people the ceremony of marriage is performed on horseback. A girl is first 

 mounted and rides off at full speed. Her lover pursues, and if he overtakes her she becomes his wife, and 

 returns with him to his tent. But it sometimes happens that the woman does not wish to marry the person 

 by whom she is pursued, in which case she will not suffer him to overtake her. If she dislikes him, she 

 rides, in English sporting phrase, neck or nothing, until she has completely escaped, or until the pursuer's 

 horse is tired out, leaving her at liberty to return, to be afterwards chased by some more favored 

 idmirer. 



h II 



Godolpbin Arabian. 



(1(34' 



