Page:Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian.djvu/240

 221 yards long, and there is nothing which can re- sist an Indian archer's shot, — neither shield nor breastplate, nor any stronger defence if such there be. In their left hand they carry bucklers made of undressed ox-hide, which are not so broad as those who carry them, but are about as long. Some are equipped with javelins in- stead of bows, but all wear a sword, which is broad in the blade, but not longer than three cubits ; and this, when they engage in close fight (which they do* with reluctance), they wield with both hands, to fetch down a lustier blow. The horsemen are equipped with two lances like the lances called aaunia, and with a shorter buckler than that carried by the foot- soldiers. But they do not put saddles on their horses, nor do they curb them with bits like the bits in use among the Greeks or the Kelts, but they fit on round the extremity of the horse's mouth a circular piece of stitched raw ox-hide studded with pricks of iron or brass pointing inwards, but not very sharp : if a man is rich he uses pricks made of ivory. Within the horse's mouth is put an iron prong Hke a skewer, to which the reins are attached. When the rider, then, pulls the reins, the prong controls the horse, and the pricks which are attached to this prong goad the mouth, so that it cannot but obey the reins. XVII. The Indians are in person slender and tall, and of much lighter weight than other men.