300 
PERSIAN HORSEMANSHIP. 
The absence of wood and water deprived it of all the graces of 
landscape ; and the distance of the mountains, which edged the 
plain, denied it the grandeur which usually accompanies such 
gigantic boundaries. While the three young princes were enjoy¬ 
ing their bird’s-eye view, of the desultory march, and continued 
feats of arms and horsemanship, with which the goolams amused 
themselves; Abbas Mirza pointed out to me the spot where 
Teheran lay, as well as that of Rey, and the direction of Ispahan, 
Hamadan, &c. &c.; after which, we descended at nearly the same 
headlong rate as that with which we had mounted. Exploits of 
this kind are nothing extraordinary to a people who from the 
earliest times have been noted for excellent horsemanship. They 
charge over the most intimidating obstacles; and go at full 
speed along precipitous tracks, which a European would hardly 
venture to attempt, but in a state of madness or intoxication. I 
have seen the attendants of Abbas Mirza gallop over the most 
rugged paths, without incurring the slightest accident; and, 
indeed, so expert are these daring and practised riders, a horse 
with broken knees is a rare sight in this country. A Persian 
has the reins put into his hands, almost as soon as he quits his 
cradle, and mounts the most spirited animals, at the age when 
our boys are just bestriding a rocking-horse. One instance, I 
have mentioned already; where the very young children of Ali 
Nackee Mirza guided their fiery steeds over the plain of Casvin 
with all the ease of the best reputed horsemen. When we talk 
of fiery steeds, in this country, the term carries no comparison 
with what may bear that name in Europe. These are, indeed, 
horses of the sun; beautiful and fleet, and often fierce as the 
burning element. Some anecdotes, which I shall relate here¬ 
after, will show that these words, when so applied, are something 
more than metaphor. 
