We there saw two game-cocks, which, so far from fighting, (though they had been selected from the most approved breed,) billed and cooed like turtle-doves.  There was a large zebra, apparently ill-tempered, which showed his anger by running at and butting every animal that came in his way.  Two half-grown llamas, which are naturally as quiet and timid as sheep, bit each other very furiously, until they foamed at the mouth.  And, lastly, a large mastiff made his appearance, walking in a slow, measured gait, with a sleek tortoise-shell cat on his back; and she, in turn, was surmounted by a mouse, which formed the apex of this singular pyramid.

The keeper, remarking our unaffected surprise at the exhibition, asked us if we could now doubt the unlimited force of education, after such a display of the triumph of art over nature.  While he was speaking, the mastiff, being jostled by the two llamas still awkwardly worrying each other, turned round so suddenly, that the mouse was dislodged from his lofty position, and thrown to the ground; on seeing which, the cat immediately sprang upon it, with a loud purring noise, which being heard by the dog, he, with a fierce growl, suddenly seized the cat.  The llamas, alarmed at this terrific sound, instinctively ran off, and having, in their flight, approached the heels of the zebra, he gave a kick, which killed one of them on the spot.

The keeper, who was deeply mortified at seeing the fabric he had raised with such indefatigable labour, overturned in a moment, protested that nothing of the sort had ever happened before.  To which we replied, by way of consolation, that perhaps the same thing might never happen again; and that, while his art had achieved a conquest over nature, this was only a slight rebellion of nature against art.  We then thanked him for his politeness, and took our leave.

CHAPTER XII.

Election of the Numnoonce, or town-constable—­Violence of parties—­Singular institution of the Syringe Boys—­The prize-fighters—­Domestic manufactures.

When we got back to the city, we found an unusual stir and bustle among the citizens, and on inquiring the cause, we understood they were about to elect the town-constable.  After taking some refreshment at our lodgings, where we were very kindly received, we again went out, and were hurried along with the crowd, to a large building near the centre of the city.  The multitude were shouting and hallooing with great vehemence.  The Brahmin remarking an elderly man, who seemed very quiet in the midst of all this ferment, he thought him a proper person to address for information.

“I suppose,” says he, “from the violence of these partisans, they are on different sides in religion or politics?”

“Not at all,” said the other; “those differences are forgotten at the present, and the ground of the dispute is, that one of the candidates is tall, and the other is short—­one has a large foretop, and the other is bald.  Oh, I forgot; one has been a schoolmaster, and the other a butcher.”