THE horse is the constant companion ofthe Grim Tatar, who will never walk two hundred yards from his own door ifhe has a horse to ride on. The accumulation of live stock seems to be theuniversal system ofthoseamongthemwho can afford it ; and accordingly the taboons, or studs, possessed by some ofthe Murzas are very considerable. That belonging to Yie Yie Murza, in our immediate neighbourhood, consists of no less than five hundred mares. They appear to have no idea of deriving any fixed revenue from breeding these animals, nor indeed any advantage, that I could understand, from keeping so many. Their pride is gratified by the number of their taboon, and they never part with any till the want of a little money compels them ; theythen send them to the markets ofAkmetchet or Karasubazar, or privately dispose of them either to Tatars or Russians.
I have known the loss of from forty to fifty horses, in a taboon ofthree hundred. This was in consequence of a disease, which probably arose from the severity of the winter, and want of food. I do not here speak of the heaviest losses which have been sustained, but of those which fell within my own knowledge. I have heard of others infinitely more severe, but I am not sufficiently acquainted with the particulars to state them with accuracy.
The native horses ofthe country are small, and ill-looking. The Tatars usually ride them in an amble, and this is the only pace which they go well. Nothing can be more slight and rapid than their method ofbreaking them in. Having ensnared the animal, by means ofa rope fixed at the end of a long light pole, they tie a halter round his neck, so tight that there seems to be danger of strangling him, and in this manner they pull him about for some few minutes, till they consider him subdued ; he is then mounted, and soon becomes tractable. The custom of eating horse-flesh is not in use among the Crim Tatars ofthe present day, and they indeed deny that it was ever their practice.
Some few Circassian horses are imported, but there are not many proprietors in the Crimea who willputthemselves to the expence ofbuyingthem. They are remarkably fine animals, and are sold at from two to five hundred rubles, while those of the country may generally be bought for forty rubles, or about two pounds sterling. The most valuable stud I have seen or heard of, is that of General Bekerookoff, who has an estate near Theodosia. This taboon is not large, but remarkable for the size and beauty of the horses, each ofwhich is estimated at five hundred rubles. All which we saw were grey.
The mountain Tatars always have theirhorses shod, while those of the Stepp only incur that expence when about to undertake long journies. Their method of shoeing is very unlike ours, and ( at least for the fore feet) requires, the co-operation of two men. A rope is fastened round the horse's fetlock, and brought over his back. One of the men, by pulling this, holds up the leg, while the other fixes the shoe. In order to raise the hind feet, they are tied to the tail. Oxen are always thrown down to be shod; this operation is generally performed by the Bulgarians, but very seldom practised by the Tatars.
The interior ofa Tatar blacksmith's forge by no means presents that scene of activity which we are accustomed to see in our own country.
The fire is made in a round hole, in the centre ofthe shop, and the bellows are placed flat on the ground, a vent being hollowed out underneath for the admission of air. They are fashioned with two handles, only one ofwhich is generally used, half the attention of the operator being occupied by his pipe, which a Tatar considers of too much importance to be relinquished for ordinary business. The blacksmith, whose stithy is arranged at a convenient height, .is seated on the ground, as is likewise his assistant who blows the bellows ; a third, who hammers the iron, places himself in the same commodious position ; and thus, that work which in England requires the exertions of the strongest and most athletic, is effected by a Tatar without detriment to his ease and comfort. Yet in all which regards the mere strength of the manufacture, we find the ploughshares thus hammered, exceedingly well executed and durable.