Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

22 HORSE-RACING.

at Lucknow, but I fancy the Natives have not
yet acquired sufficient taste for the sport to
take any great delight in it. As long as it is
fashionable with European society, so long it
may be viewed with comparative interest by
the few. But their views of the breed and
utility of a stud differ so much from those of a
European, that there is but little probability of
the sport of horse-racing ever becoming a fa-
vourite amusement with them. When they
are disposed to hunt, it is always on elephants,
both for security and to save fatigue.

A horse of the finest temper, form, or breed,
one that would be counted the most perfect ani-
mal by an English connoisseur, would be rejected
by a Native if it possessed the slightest mark by
them deemed " unfortunate." If the legs are not
all of a colour, the horse is not worthy ; if an un-
lucky turn of the hair, or a serpentine wave of
another colour appears on any part of the animal,
it is an " omen of ill-luck" to the possessor, and
must not be retained on the premises. A single
blemish of the sort would be deemed by a
Native gentleman as great a fault in an other-