134 Character of the Mabrättás us Horfémen, tër. "At horfemen, the Mahrattasple carry, faftened to the trupper, are to an European eye very lun- "Some, but comparatively not many, ufed peaked faddies; that y to fay, faddles with a peak tifing in a crane neck form in front, which the Mahrattas feem to have adopted from the Mog. Buls: moft horfes led in ftate, of which every confiderable perfon Bas feveral, have thefe faddles, but in general à fubstitute is ufed, ealted by us a charge hammer (although we apprehend the word hould be fpelled char-jamma) compofed of a piece of stuff made of hair, as our hats are of felt, put next the horse, which effectu ally prevents chafing; it is bound by a girth, on which, with fhort leathers, the ftirrups are fufpen ded; over this the rider's cloaths, bedding, &c. are bound by ano ther girth, and over all a covering is laid, alfo called a charge hammer, chiefly ornamental, agreeable to the fancy. the tobra, a leathern vessel, into which the horfe thrufts his mouth to eat his graint they carry alfb the head and heel ropes, called from their firmation agateepeetcharee, for the country custom of picketing horfes is different from ours: a rope is tarried from the head tall on each fide to a peg, and the hinder fetlocks have a thong round them, from which ropes are tarried twenty, and fometimes thirty feet, and there faftened to a peg, which pulls the hoffe back, and keeps him, when ftanding, on the stretch; but does not, as it would appear, and, is generally fuppofed, keep him from lying down. A Mahrätta, although he fells his horse, never parts with the heel ropes; it is deemed unlucky. In the field the horfes are kept always cloathe ed, with their eyes covered, to prevent horfes and mares feeing each other, or any thing to make them reftlefs; the cloathing, they fay, preferves the gloffy appearance of the ebat. The bridles have but one bit, like our fnaffie, but fometimes, if a horse's mouth is callous, fo jagged and pointed that it cuts him feverely: the rein is fixed on a fwivel ring, that projects a little downwards, but has not the power of our curb; one fingle narrow ftrap faftens the bridle on, over which a headstall, unconnected with the bridle, is worn this is ufually ornamented with lace or embroidery, and has the martinga! fixed to it, and a thong, about a yard in length, depends from the rein to touch the horfe with, as neit ther whip nor fwitch is ever used. "No man, if his beaft is not worth five rupees, rides without a crupper and a martingal. Men of property have their crappers adorned with filver knobs as big as hen's eggs, filk taffels, or em broidery, the crappers admit of two rows of these ornaments, be- "The ornaments most common ing faftened, not as ours are, in among the Mahratta gentlemen, the centre of the faddle behind, are a necklace over the horfe but on each fide. Common pro-cheft, fometimes made of filver plates Charafier of the Makrattas as Horsemen, Ec 13$ plates of different kinds, or of particular admiration; a perfon coins; Tippoo's rupees and dou. who after walking, when he could ble rupees, made into an orna. have rode, ten or twelve miles, ment of this defcription, cut a continued perambulating to and very thining appearance: The fro in his tent, under a tree, of mane plaited in fmall braids, with in the fun for an hour or two. coloured filks, and filver knobs they concluded must be infane depending a top knot between This idea prevailed fome time the horse's cars, and fome have but when on acquaintance they tails, perhaps five or fix on each had reafon to fuppofe the perfon fide; thefe tails are very bushy, compus, and found it so general and, when clean, milk white, and a practice, they knew not what are, we have been told, given to to think; until at length it was distinguish some military exploit. difcovered to be our method of They are faid to be the tail of a praying, which difcovery was wild cow in the northern parts confirmed by their never obferv of Hindoostan, and are, among ing any other acts of devation. other, ufes, found ferviceable to A foldier in the field must be keep flies off the table during content with being devout ia meals they are then fet in a fil-private: and as no opportunities ver handle, and called chowrie, offered for our friends to fee aur All perfons of diftinction have pious practices, it was as well to people conftantly whisking them let them indulge the idea, for as about to keep the flies off, par- to telling them it was for exercise, ticularly the Muffelmans, who their language does not furnish abominate flies. them with fuch a word, nor theis understanding fuch an idea. All people naturally attached to their own customs, view with furprise the difference in thofe of Strangers. The Mabrattas ftared to fee us riding with fpurs and without martingals; but without cruppers it had to them an ap pearance as prepofterous, as in England it would be for a gentle man to walk bare footed. Some others of our customs greatly excited their attention. They have no idea how a man can prefer walking to riding. A Mahratta on a marching day, gets on his horfe at his teat-door, and does not difmount until he reaches the fpot of encampment: to fee us frequently walk ten or twelve miles with our horfes led, was to them an unaccountable piece of obftinacy, Another custom, peculiar we believe to Europeans, of walking backward and forward in a tent, or, for want of one, in the open air, they marked with in "As farriers, the Mahrattas are very deficient, having but little knowledge, either of the difeafee incident to horfes, or of the mes thod of cure. Their common medicine, on all occafions, is maffola, which is a compofition chiefly of fpices, mixed up with flour and ghee That called bas tees, from being compounded of two and thirty ingredients. (ba-ters, in the Mahratta tongue, is thirty-two) is moft efteemed: pepper and ginger are the chief ingredients, with a fall quanti ty of caffia, cardamoms, faffron &c. and is given on all occafions, whether the animal be coftive or loofe. Maffola is alfo given to horfes to make them fleek and fpirited, for which purpose it is ufual to mix a fpoonful or two of whole pepper, and a little falt with their grain. Favourites are fometimes indulged with theep's head 136 Character of the Mahrattas as Horfemen, &c. head broth, rice and milk, and I camp, and, whenever they are other dainties. "The Mahrattas have alfo purging balls, compofed principally of jallap, and are not ignorant of the effects of nitre, which they give in the gripes and other diforders. They have not the art of rowelling, nor of burning or cutting for the lampers: the Jatter they reduce by rubbing the gums violently with falt, but the horfe is fubject to a return of the excrefcence. The lampers is a diforder very common in India. Cropping and knicking are un. known in India, nor can the na tives believe we practise them, and were a horfe's ears as long as an afs's, they would not think of cutting them down; nor they never clip the tail, but delight in feeing it long and full, and, if white, it is frequently dyed red. "The bigotry with which all fects of Hindoos adhere to their own customs, is well known; fill, when thefe cuftoms are ftrikingly injudicious, and totally abftracted from religious prejudi ces, perfeverance degenerates in to obftinacy, and fimplicity into ignorance. So it is with the Mahrattas, in abiding by the prefent practice of cutting the hoof and fhoeing horfes: they cut away the hinder part of the hoof, in fuch a manner that the paftern almoft touches the ground, and the frog is fuffered to grow fo that the hoof is nearly a circle, in which form the fhoes are made, the hinder part almoft touching and fo thin, that a perfon of ordinary ftrength can eafily twift them. Inftead of wanted, do the business on the fpot; as they carry a dozen ready made fhoes, with nails, and all their implements in a bag. The anvil weighs five or fix pounds, and is driven into the ground, a hammer or two, a pair of pincers, and a clumfy knife to pare the hoof, are all their tools. They ufe no rafp, but pare the hoof to fit the fhoe. During the job, the horfekeeper, or groom holds the horse's foot up with a thong, that the operator brings in his bag. The nails are clumfy, with round heads, and are not let into a groove in the fhoe: its thin nefs would not admit of it. With difficulty two or three were prevailed upon to learn our me thod of making and fixing fhoes, and were employed by almoft our whole line, but will, doubtless, when we left then, have taken again to their former manner, "It is but juftice, however, to give them credit for their skill in that part of farriery that relates to cutting, in which we think Europeans might take a leffon. The part is not extracted whole, but a ligature is tied tight roundthe fcrotum, fo as to prevent any nourishment being received, and in a few days the part to be removed is diffolved, the fcrotum punctured, and its contents let out in a kind of pus. Emollients are put into the scrotum, and in a fhort time the horse is well. This method is certainly, upon the whole, more expeditious, lefs painful, and faid to be fafer than cutting: indeed the operator will infure the horfe for a trifle. The animal is commonly purged, and brought to a proper temperament making the back part of the fhoe the thickeft, they hammer it quite thin, making the fore part thick-before the operation. It is not, eft, and the foe, gradually becoming thinner, ends in an edge, The farriers travel about however, common, among the Mahrattas, to make geldings; never, indeed, but when, from Epigram. vice, a horfe is unmanageable. Bullocks are made in the fame manner, and in another very cruel one. "With the Mahrattas, long fetlock joints are esteemed, although they are not ignorant of its being a fign of weakness: they fay it makes the animal eafier in his paces, which may be true, as it would appear a horfe's fetlocks act like fprings to a carriage. "Piebald horfes are deemed ftrong, fecond only to black, of which colour very few are to be feen. White is a bad colour, unless with a black mane and tail, and then it is paffable. The method, in Europe, of croffing the breed, the Mahrattas do not practile, but endeavour to preferve the breed by coupling ani. mals of the fame nation, which they have not yet learned, caufes them to degenerate. An Arab and a Toorkee (a heavy fpecies) would make a good breed, bu they put Arab to Arab, and conceive by not mixing the blood, that the foal will have all the virtues of its parents. "Mr. Orme has fome earnest inquiries refpecting the manner in which the Mahrattas procure and feed their horfes: they certainly breed a great many, ard procure others from Arabia, | Perfia, Candahar, and the north. ern parts of Hindooftan. We know of no place in the Mahratta country peculiarly adapted for feeding horfes, but conjecture the different chiefs feed their own cattle, in their Own territories: in few parts of which, we apprehend, will be found a want af pafturage. "Mr. Orme speaks of a breed, of which he fays, a few are leen ftraggling in every part of thefe countries, but fo diminutive and naught, that no one owns VOL. VII. No. XXXIX. 137 them, and they may be taken up for the fee of a few pence to the Zemindar." A fpecies called tattoo, are here alluded to, and although not quite fo defpicable, as Mr. Orme mentions, are cer. tainly, as horfes, a moft contempt. ible breed: they are, however, ferviceable and hardy, and frequently used, instead of bullocks, for carrying baggage. Their va lue is from five to fifteen rupees. Horfes bred in this country, of the ordinary fize, fell from two to fix hundred rupees; northern horfes up to a thousand rupees, which is reckoned a high price. Mr. Fryer does not, as Mr. Orme fuppofes, in the note juft quoted, mean rice, when he fpeaks of corn for horses: that grain is never given to horfes as their ordinary food. Gram and cooity are the grain on which horfes are fed throughout the Mahratta country." 138 Plan of a Court of Honour at Pruffia. TAK AKE, at Midfummer, the bark of holly, and peel from the tree so much of it as will fill a moderate large veffel; then put to it running water, and fet it over a fire, and boil it till the grey and white bark rise from the up green, which will take fixteen hours; then take it from the fire, and feparate the barks after the water is very well drained away: then take all the green bark, and lay it on the ground in a close place and moist floor, and cover it over with all manner of green weeds, as hemlock, docks, thistles, and the like; thus let it die ten or twelve days, in which time it will rot, and turn to a filthy flimy matter : then put it into a mortar, and beat it till it become univerfally thick and tough, without the difcerning of any part of the bark or other substance; then take it out of the mortar, and carry it to a running ftream, and there wash it well, not leaving any foulnefs about it; then put it up in a very close earthen pot, and let it ftand and purge for divers days together, fcumming it as of ten as any foulness arises for four or five days: when you perceive no more fcum, then take it out of that pot, and put it into an other clean earthen veffel, cover it clofe, and keep it for use. When you want to use your ime, take what quantity you think fit, and put it into a pip. kin, adding a third part of goofe or capon's-greafe finely clarified, and fet them over a gentle fire; let them melt together, and ftir them continually till they are well incorporated: then take it from the fire, and ftir it till it be When your lime is cold, take your rods and warm them a little over the fire; then take your lime and wind it about the tops of your rods; then draw your rods afunder one from the other, and close them again, continually plying and working them together, till by fmearing one upon another you have equally be ftowed on each rod a fufficient proportion of lime. If you lime any strings, do it when the lime is very hot and at the thinneft, befmearing the trings on all fides, by folding them together and unfolding them again. done likewife when the lime is If you lime ftraws, it must be very hot, doing a great quantity together, as many as you can welt grafp in your hand, toffing and working them before the fire till they are all befmeared, every ftraw having its due proportion of lime having fo done, put them up in cafes of leather till you have occafion to use them. To prevent the freezing of your lime, either on twigs, bufhes, or ftraws, you must add a quarter as much of the oil of petroleum as of capon's greafe, mixing them well together, and then work it on your rods, &c. and fo it will ever keep fupple, tough, and gentle, and will not be prejudiced fhould the weather freeze never fo hard. |