The country, which lay 22 days' voyage west of Kuli
(supposed Calicut, but perhaps Kayal), was devoid of grass or trees.
(Bretschneider, Med. Res., II. pp. 305-306.)
[Ma-huan (transl. by Phillips) writes (J.R.A.S., April 1896): "In the
nineteenth year of Yung-lo (1422) an Imperial Envoy, the eunuch Li, was
sent from China to this country with a letter and presents to the King. On
his arrival he was most honourably received, and was met by the king on
landing and conducted by him to his palace." - H.C.]
NOTE 2. - The words describing the horses are (P.'s text): "de bons
destriers Arrabins et chevaux et grans roncins a ij selles." The meaning
seems to be what I have expressed in the text, fit either for saddle or
pack-saddle.
[Roncins a deux selles. Littre's great Dictionary supplies an apt
illustration of this phrase. A contemporary Eloge de Charles VII. says:
"Jamais il chevauchoit mule ne haquenee, mais un bas cheval trotier
entre deux selles" (a cob?).]
In one application the Deux selles of the old riding-schools were the
two styles of riding, called in Spanish Montar a la Gineta and Montar a
la Brida. The latter stands for the old French style, with heavy bit and
saddle, and long stirrups just reached by the toes; the former the Moorish
style, with short stirrups and lighter bit.
