TABRIZ. 
281 
qualities of the ancient Persians, which Xenophon enumerates; 
riding, shooting with the bow, and speaking truth. His countrymen 
however are, in general, less severe in their estimate of the requisites of 
a great character, and are content to omit the last trait of excellence; 
but they never praise any one without placing in the foremost 1 of his 
virtues his horsemanship; in which alone perhaps they possess any 
national pride. I once in fact was in some danger of a serious dispute, 
by hazarding a doubt, that the Turks rode better than the Persians. 
It is quite ridiculous to hear them boast of their own feats on horseback, 
and despise the cavalry of every other nation. They always said, 
“ Perhaps your infantry may surpass ours ; but our horsemen are the 
“ first in the world; nothing can stand before their activity and impe- 
“ tuosity.” In fact, they have courage—one of the first qualities of a 
horseman; they ride without the least apprehension over any country, 
climb the most dangerous steeps over rock and shrub; and keep their 
way in defiance of every obstacle of ground. They have also a firm 
seat, and that on a saddle which, among an hundred different sorts, 
would be called the least commodious. But that is all; they under¬ 
stand nothing of a fine hand, nor indeed with their bridles can they 
learn; for they use only a strong snaffle, fastened to the rein by an 
immense ring on each side, which they place indifferently in the 
strongest or weakest mouths: nor do they know how to spare their 
horses and save them unnecessary fatigue; for their pace is either a 
gallop on the full stretch, or a walk. As a nation, as fit stuff for 
soldiers, I know of no better materials. The Persian possesses the true 
qualities of the soldier; active, inured to labour, careless of life, ad¬ 
miring bravery, and indeed (as the chief object of their ambition) 
aspiring to the appellation of resheed or courageous. 
The greater part of the Prince's horse were sent out at this season 
into different districts, where grass is the most plentiful; and there 
were said to be only three thousand men in garrison at Tabriz. 
The amount of the general force under the government of the 
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