Malcolm again tells us of what is still observed, that it is not unusual for those of the military tribes who desire to show their respect at the funerals of chiefs and soldiers of high reputation to send a horse without a rider, but with arms upon the saddle, to swell the train of the mourning cavalcade.

The favourite charger of the departed warrior, carrying his arms and clothes, accompanies the procession; the sheepskin cap he wore is placed on the pommel of his saddle; his scarf sash, or _kumarbund,_ is bound round the horse's neck, and his boots are laid across the saddle.

In all this may be seen the origin of similar customs now followed by the most civilized nations, and of the regard in which the horse is held as 'the noble animal.' The late Shah had not a single English or European riding-horse in his stables, nor are any such seen in the country except some from Russia--heavy, coarse animals, bred in the Don districts, and used for carriage purposes.

The artillery with the Persian Cossack brigade at Tehran also have a few Russian horses.

Nasr-ed-Din had such a high appreciation of Arab and Eastern horses, of which he was in a position to get the very best, that he found it difficult to understand what he considered the fancy prices paid in England for racing stock.