, 1877-07-22

! OtHTUetO L0FUeSpoHAEHEE L1!0oW llU8Es
| At the halfway station, where VIC stopped to
bait,-kalugarem, on the River Ardshi,-a party
OF Cossacks, with two batteries Of horse artil-
lery, were in biTounc, displaying at first sight
their peculiar habit OF riding their horses naked
| in the water Man and horse p1ayed together
| Us boys might with dogs. They swan side BY
! side, or horse in front, man holding on by his
| tail; there was mounting and di=moun1iur when
! the horse was swimming, and pushing each
others heads under the water, the animal enjoy
| ing the fun as much as the man. The reason
for this curious habit soon became apparent. 4
fresh batch Of horses, dusty and travel stained,
came down to the brink this time. ridden in
some cases by Co5sacks in uniform. Almost
invariably the first impulse OF the Intelligent
little beasts was to lie down and roll In water
about two feet or three feet deep. When suc-
cesstul, as they often were, their riders had to
amid the careless, childlikc laughter OF their
comrades. It WAS all the same to the horses
whether their masters were on their backs or
not; down they went almost invariably and
rolled to their hearts content. Sometimes
they were driven into the water half-a-dozcn
at q time, and played all sorts Of pzanks
together, rolling under each others bellies
and tumblnS about more like Il set Of puppies
than horses. Most Of them, when they CAME
out OF the water, rolled in the dry, dusty stuff
that was lately mud by the side OF the river, as
dogs are fond OF doing. These Cussack horses
are not shod on their hind feet, but the practics
OF leaving the hoof to take care of itself does
not seem to be suitable to their work here at
least. There were not many lame horses there
to-day, but those which were lame suffered al
most invariably in their hind feet, though thc
roasis are soft enough with dust. There were
no1s nntt worn amost ,emxa "a as those Of an
hunting and been ridden quietly home.
Many stories are told of the cleTcrncss OF the
Cossacks in obtaining what they need for them
selves OF horses and all tend to shqv that their
can civilization generally. Some OF the stories
may possibly have been invented, but they show
the general tone OF feeling aud what is expected
from these quaint, reckless, merry troops.
Passing through the streets OF Galatz, the thin,
wc3ry-looking horse OF Cossack suddenly fell
and lay apparently lifcless on the ground Its
master was moved even to tears, and bewailed
tue unhappy fate which had not onIy de-
prlved him Of I faVorite, but lett him
horseless just at the most interesting
round, and in it were men whose kind hearts
would not su1fer them to leave the poor man
without some practical expression Of their pity.
: =. SUBSCRIPTION was made: and the man, taking
the saddle from the lifeless animal, went on his
way with dried tears. for ne had actually wept
AS the crowd were bending over the little horse
IN pure sympathy. i whistle was heard at The
other end Of the street. The horse sprang to
u1a Aecs, aEu "itA Il JoyIul neigh Joined his mas
ter, whose clever trick was much admired, even
by tlose who suffered by it. To deceive the
good people Of Galatzin any transaction In which
money is involved is no easy task, aud demands
an amount Of cleyerness seldom to he
found. Another proof of the same doubtful
was told me BY an eyewitness.
Co:sack having cast his eyes on piece q, chees,
which he desired to bu7 from jew, asked to
examine it. While it WAS in his hands be asked
the price, which was, OF course, cxorbtant. lie
placed it unslcr his arm aud began tn harr,ip
as hc talked his comrades passed belli!,d him
ahd each tut OF piece. The Cossack said it
was small clleese, the jew that IT was biz
one. Bat IS tie Cossack would show it from
time to time looking smaller and smaller, the
Jew, afraid to attempt any violence, saytsin 10
tue Cossack's price, which, unlike TINT of the
oibyliirc books, grew ever s.nuler and smaller
Is tue article be had to buy diminished