DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11637#0322
294 TRAVELS IN UPPER
Mameluc cavalry, in his letter to the Executive
Directory, dated Cairo, the 6th of Mcssidor, year
6 : " The Mamelucs," says this great man, " had
" ^ magnificent body of cavalry, covered with
" gold and silver, armed with the best carbines
" and pistols of London manufacture, the best
*c sabres of the East, and mounted perhaps on the
c( best horses on the Continent."
These horses were equally esteemed by the
people of Egypt and by the Turks, who compared
them to those beautiful animals with slender legs,
speedy as the wind, that possess such lightness
and elegance of shape, and under the name of an-
telopes are considered by the Orientals as the
symbols of swiftness and perfection, while their
eyes are deemed the standard of beauty.
Only two paces are allowed to this distinguished
breed of horses : the walk, in which they step out
well; and a full gallop. The trot is considered
as a mean pace, and these horses are perfectly un-
acquainted with it. They are accustomed to stop
short, if required, in the midst of their course,
while running at full speed. Such a practice would
quickly ruin the legs of these animals, were they
less excellent *.
* And it is probable it frequently does, so that Maillet's ac-
count may be nothing but the truth a little exaggerated.— E,
When
Mameluc cavalry, in his letter to the Executive
Directory, dated Cairo, the 6th of Mcssidor, year
6 : " The Mamelucs," says this great man, " had
" ^ magnificent body of cavalry, covered with
" gold and silver, armed with the best carbines
" and pistols of London manufacture, the best
*c sabres of the East, and mounted perhaps on the
c( best horses on the Continent."
These horses were equally esteemed by the
people of Egypt and by the Turks, who compared
them to those beautiful animals with slender legs,
speedy as the wind, that possess such lightness
and elegance of shape, and under the name of an-
telopes are considered by the Orientals as the
symbols of swiftness and perfection, while their
eyes are deemed the standard of beauty.
Only two paces are allowed to this distinguished
breed of horses : the walk, in which they step out
well; and a full gallop. The trot is considered
as a mean pace, and these horses are perfectly un-
acquainted with it. They are accustomed to stop
short, if required, in the midst of their course,
while running at full speed. Such a practice would
quickly ruin the legs of these animals, were they
less excellent *.
* And it is probable it frequently does, so that Maillet's ac-
count may be nothing but the truth a little exaggerated.— E,
When