The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-29
: RUSSIAN HORSES.
A Breed Which Surpssses the Arabians-
VIII Carry Man Eighty Miles i'm
Four Hours-The Bandits of the Cau-
casus Have Them

Breed which Surpasses the Arabian
Four Hours-The Bandits of the Cau-
casus Have Them.
| The Russian horse is an animal of re-
markable qualities, which are set forth in
( a manner TO make us wish for his better
acquaintance. Fast driving holds pre-
eminent place among the sports of the
Russian gentleman. No expense or trou-
bic is deemed too great to crafty his
fancy inthat respect. A good pair of fast
trotters of a favorite breed sometimes
bring as much as 81, ,0G0, a price which is
looked upon as stupendous by the author,
who has evidently never heard of the cost
ly stud of our turf-compelling townsman,
Mr.. Il. Bonner. The horses are fine
looking animals, but are only fit tor town
use. They are always driven without
blinders, for it is the faith of every Rus
sian coachman, that if you give horse
chance TO look round and examine every
object before him he will not shy. The
post horses are unmatched in the world
for swiftness and endurance. Another
kind of horse, and devoted to peculiar
service, is thus described: 1.-The Tcherk-
ess of the Great and Little Kabardah breed
splendid race of horses. Brought up in
the wild steppe, amid dangers and nightly
alarms, its apprehensive sagacity becomes
early developed in high degree. 1t is
fine animal, with strong spine, powerful
Group and thigh. and great width of shOul-
der and chest; the knee caps are broad,
the heof as if formed of iron, head and
neck tolerably light; every thing seems
combined to render them trusty, indefati-
gable servants to man. The Tchetchents,
the most ferocious and determined brig
ands of the Caucasus (now fortunately
only in small numbers) used to buy their
horses in the Kabardah. They pick out the
most promising one year Olds, take them
home, where they are, so 70 say, received
into the bosom of the family. They re-
ceiye their food when the latter sits down
to a meal, and they often sit in the same
room. They young children will play
with them, talk to them. and crawl all day
long over and about them. What wonder
if the horse becomes almost as wise as his
master? The Young bows will some times
mount him and gallop over the prairies,
but no adult thinks of bestriding him be-
tore he has finished his sixth year. His
bones have then become firmly developed,
his sinews and feet are steel, his wind is
invincible. He knows his masters voice
and look-nay, he has even some notion of
his character. His nerves have from his
birth been finely tunt d to the sound of
dangers or mysterious enterprise. 1t
knows when its brigand master is on an
expedition of risk and unlawful daring.
A whispered word sends him down into
the high steppe weeds or bushes, situated
near the road. at place where the Latter
is difficult, where convenient ditch is at
hand TO receive a carriage aud its human
freight In breathless silence, both wait
for what may turn up. The ears of the
Tehetchentsian Black Bess silly move to
every watt of the light wind, and, before
the man can hear the slightest sound, he
sees by the demeanor of his steed that
business will soon be at hand. Hark
faint sound of the postal bell Fastened to
the pole of the vehicle) strikes his ear; he
feels of his gun, his pistol, his raZor-edged
sword, the large dagger (kinchaD, and
breathlessly awaits the approach of the
travellers. NOta single thought bestowing
or the probable number or quality of the
foe. he Stands over his horse, which slowly
gathers his feet up beneath him. AT last
the moment for action has arrived. The
cal Iriage is just at the right distance from
the ditch or other accidental difficulty of
the road-a soft touch, and horse and man
are up. With the bound of tiger the
horse pounces- upon the leaders, attacking
them with hoofand tooth. Simultaneous
ly the rider has fired at the driver; mad
with terror the post-horses have jumped
off the road, precipitating the carriage
into the hole, and before its inmates have
time TO feel for their revolvers they are
eased of at least part of their property,
and may thank God if they have not bro
ken neck and limb in their fall. Before
they recover from their fright, the Tchet-
chenr is already several miles on his gallOp
home. He has hard ride before him, and
he, as well as his cunning quadruped,
knows it full well; for tomorrow there
will be an inquiry about where Muham-
med, or Arsslan Bey, or Moussa, were
that night. With calm smile our brig
and friend replies to the Russian GradO-
Natehalnik' question Where should
have been but here? The robbery was
committed near the Akhouskskoy Stanltzi,
10 versts eighty miIes) from here, and
what? at O'Clock you say, why | was
here at u, as 1 can prove, and could not
ride that distance in three hours The
officer, up to Tchetchent's tricks, and
any thing but satisfied, turns to the steed
to discover from his appearance the effects
of so severe a ride; but the nag is quietly
eating his corn, and looking as contented
and playful as if he knew that his masters
safety depended on his brave be ring"