THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 517 
fecond toe, as they are afraid of being entangled by the 
ftirrup if their horfe falls, fhould. they. put their foot into 
it. 
I consENTED to try him very willingly. Along experience 
with the Moors in Barbary put me above fear of any horfe,, 
however vicious, which I had no reafon to think this was; 
befides, I: rode always with a Barbary bridle, broad ftirrups, 
and fhort ftirrup-leathers, after their fafhion ; the bridle is 
known to every fcholarin horfemanthip, and{hould be ufed. 
by every light-horfeman or dragoon, for the moft vicious 
horfe cannot advance a yard againft this bridle, when ina 
ftrong hand. I ordered the feis, or groom, to change the 
faddle and bridle for mine, and I had on a-pair of fpurs with 
very long and fharp rowels.. Ifaw prefently the horfe did 
not like the bit, but that I did not wonder at;. my faddle was: 
what is called a: war faddle, high behind and before, fo, un-. 
Jefs the horfe fell, it was impoffible to throw the rider. I 
had alfo a thick, knotty ftick, or truncheon, of about three 
feet long, inftead of a whip, and well.was it.for me I was fo» 
prepared for him.. 
For the firft two minutes after F mounted I do not: 
Know. whether! was moft on the earth or in the air; he: 
kicked behind, reared before; leaped like a-deer, all four off. 
the ground, and. it was fome time before I recollected my-: 
felf; he then attempted to gallop, taking the bridle in his 
teeth, but got a check which ftlaggered him ; he, however, 
continued to gallop; and, finding I flacked the bridle on his 
' neck, and that he. was at. eafe, he fet off and ran. away 
as hard as he could, flinging out behind every ten yards ; 
the: ground. was very favourable, {mooth, foft, and up-hill- 
We: 
