282 Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. [No. 148. 



geldings are alone employed in journey or the foray ; the mares 

 and stallions being kept at home exclusively for the sake of breeding. 

 The animals are hardy, enduring, and sure-footed, and from their ex- 

 cessive cheapness, might be exported with advantage to some of our 

 Eastern colonies. Those reared among the Galla tribes are deserved- 

 ly considered the most superior, the reckless character of those wild 

 riders impelling the colts over the most difficult ground in their 

 youth, and thus during their education, imparting to the animal a 

 degree of boldness and confidence, which is not to be found among the 

 Amhara steeds. 



84. The animal intended for the saddle, is castrated on reaching 

 his second year. The opening is made with a sharp knife, and after 

 the operation, actual cautery is freely applied to stop the effusion of 

 blood. Although the practice appears rough, yet very few horses are 

 lost from subsequent disease; and indeed from long use and expe- 

 rience the art of castration has made considerable advance as a 

 science in Abyssinia, every available animal being operated upon by 

 these amateurs, from the hapless Galla prisoner taken in the foray, to 

 the domestic fowl which creeps moping about the farm yard. 



85. Horses are never shod, nor is any attention paid to cutting 

 or fashioning the hoof, which being exceedingly hard, for a time bids 

 defiance to all rocks and inequality of ground ; but at the end of a 

 long expedition, many of the animals suffer considerably from the 

 want of the farrier. The bridle is particularly severe, and possesses 

 even greater power than the most potent Mahratta bit, long cheek 

 pieces being fixed to an indented bit, which is inserted into the mouth, 

 and secured round the lower jaw by means of an iron ring, which like 

 a tightened curb, acts to the complete restraint of the most violent 

 animal. The saddle is of the Tartar form and fashion, two light 

 boards connected by a high wooden pommel and cantel, leaving an open 

 space for the back bone, and all tightly sown together; a skin covers 

 the construction, and the stirrup irons are very minute indeed, as the 

 toe of the horseman is alone placed in rest during the exercise. 



86. The horse is considered a very inferior animal to the mule, 

 whose soft, agreeable pace suits better with the general lazy habits of 

 the Abyssinians, and whose patience and surety of step among the 

 steep rocky mountains are sufficiently appreciated ; the prices given 



