property,
although he calls them quite wild.--"Only in the heart of Tartary can
the horse be found perfectly in a wild state. One herd in the steppe
will consist of 1000 horses; but the keepers of herds will have several.
Dressed in leather, with a girdle which contains the implements of his
veterinary art; a black lambskin cap on his head, the _tabuntshik_, or
herdsman, eats, drinks, and sleeps in his saddle; has no shelter, and
dare not even turn his back upon a storm, as the creatures do for whom
he is responsible. In his hand he holds a whip, with a thick, short
handle, and a lash from fifteen to eighteen feet long. Then he must have
a sling, with which he takes unerring aim at each individual of his
straggling herd; then a wolf-stick, with a knob of iron at the end,
hangs from his saddle; and a cask of water, a bag of bread, and a bottle
of brandy are necessary parts of his equipment. He pays for every horse
that is lost; in ten years he is worn out, yet is unfit for any other
life; he lives in constant dread of horse-stealers, notwithstanding
which he steals them himself.

"From Easter to October the herds graze day and night in the steppes. In
the winter they are sheltered at night by mounds of earth, and a sort of
roof, from the north. The stallions and stronger horses take possession
of the shed, and the rest stand outside, huddled together. In severe
winters, sickness and death overtake them, and those who survive, walk
about like specters. But when they eat the young grass, which appears
when the snow is melted, they are as wild and mischievous as ever. The
stallions seem to consider themselves as the chiefs of the herd; and one
of these, by right of strength, is the chief _par excellence_. Sometimes
one stallion will have affronted the rest, and all combine to turn him
out; and then he will be seen apart from them, with a few mares
attending him.[7] Occasionally two herds will fight for right of
pasture; the mares and foals keep aloof, the stallions flourish their
tails, erect their manes, rattle their hoofs together, and fasten on
each other with their teeth; the victorious party carrying off several
mares.

"In the spring come the wolves, being very fond of young foals; so they
constantly prowl round the herds, never attacking them by day if they
are numerous; but come at night, and if they are scattered, they make a
rush upon their victims. The stallions, however, charge at them; and
they take flight on