ON THE HORSE. 
and is indeed part of it : men, women, children, 
mares, and foals, all lie in one common tent, 
and they lodge promiscuously without fear of 
injury. ‘ 
This constant intercourse produces a fami- 
liarity that could not otherwise be eflected; 
and creates a tractability in the horses that 
could arise only from a regular good usage, 
little acts of kindness, and a soothing language, 
which they are accustomed to from their ma- 
sters: they are quite unacquainted with the 
spur; the lest touch with the stirrup sets these 
airy coursers in motion; they start forward with 
a fleetness which surpasses that of the Ostrich,* 
yet they are so well trained as to stop in their 
most rapid speed by the slightest check of the 
rider: there are sometimes instances of their 
being mounted without either bridle or saddle, 
when they shew such compliance to their rider’s 
will, as to be directed in their course by the 
mere motion of a switch. : 
Paret in obsequium lente moderamine virge, 
Verbera sunt precepta fuge, sunt verbera 
Srena.t 
* For an account of its speed, vide Adanson’s voy. 85. 
+ Tavernier’s Travels, i. 63. 
t Nemesion Cyneg. 267. 
301 
