TARPAN . — Equus (arpan. 
HORSES. 
HE Hokse "has, from time immemorial, been made the companion and servant of 
man, and its original progenitors are unknown. It is supposed, however, that 
the Horse must have derived its origin from Central Asia, and from thence 
have spread to almost every portion of the globe. 
There are several countries, such as Tartary and Northern America, where 
the Horse runs wild, and has almost entirely reverted to its primeval state, 
thus affording an idea of the manners and customs of the Horse before it was 
subjected to the dominion of man. In Tartary, the Wild Horses are found in herds, consist- 
ing of many thousands in number, and are actuated by a wonderful spirit of discipline, each 
herd acting under the commands of a single leader, and executing his orders with military 
precision. The Tartars recruit their studs from these herds, capturing the best and strongest 
animals with the aid of a falcon, which is trained to settle on the Horse’s head, and flutter 
its wings about his face so as to blind and detain him until the hunter comes up to secure 
his prize. The horses thus taken are coupled with the tame animals, and in a very short 
time learn to perform their share of the work, and to obey the orders of their master as 
implicitly as they once obeyed those of their quadrupedal leader. 
Each herd is headed by an old experienced Horse, who holds his position by right of 
conquest, and loses his chieftainship if vanquished by any opponent. The young males are 
always excluded from these herds, and are forced to live solitary lives until they can attract 
some of the opposite sex, and set up an establishment on their own account. The color of the 
Wild Horse of Tartary is red, with a black stripe along the back. 
Not only do the Tartars ride their horses, but they drink the milk and eat the flesh, so 
that a Horse-hunt is often conducted merely as a food-procuring expedition. From the milk 
the Tartars manufacture a peculiar sub-acid liquid, which they term “koumiss,” and is made 
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