their companions by their superior dress.  Manchester cloths of inferior quality, but of the most showy patterns, and dresses made of common English bed-furniture, were fastened round the waist of several sooty maidens, who, for the sake of fluttering a short hour in the gaze of their countrymen, had sacrificed in clothes the earnings of a twelve-month’s labour.  All the women had ornamented their necks with strings of beads, and their wrists with bracelets of various patterns, some made of glass beads, some of brass, others of copper; and some again of a mixture of both metals:  their ancles also were adorned with different sorts of rings, of neat workmanship.

“The distant sound of drums gave notice of the king’s approach, and every eye was immediately directed to the quarter from whence he was expected.  The cavalcade shortly appeared, and four horsemen first drew up in front of the chief’s house, which was near the centre of the course, and close to the spot where his wives and children and ourselves were sitting.  Several men bearing on their heads an immense quantity of arrows in huge quivers of leopard’s skin came next, followed by two persons who, by their extraordinary antics and gestures, we concluded to be buffoons.  These two last were employed in throwing sticks into the air as they went on, and adroitly catching them in falling, besides performing many whimsical and ridiculous feats.  Behind these, and immediately preceding the king, a group of little boys, nearly naked came dancing merrily along, flourishing cows’ tails over their heads in all directions.  The king rode onwards, followed by a number of fine-looking men, on handsome steeds; and the motley cavalcade all drew up in front of his house, where they awaited his further orders without dismounting.  This we thought was the proper time to give the first salute, so we accordingly fired three rounds; and our example was immediately followed by two soldiers, with muskets which were made at least a century and a half ago.

“Preparations in the mean time had been going on for the race, and the horses with their riders made their appearance.  The men were dressed in caps and loose tobes and trousers of every colour; boots of red morocco leather, and turbans of white and blue cotton.  The horses were gaily caparisoned; strings of little brass bells covered their heads; their breasts were ornamented with bright red cloth and tassels of silk and cotton; a large quilted pad of neat embroidered patchwork was placed under the saddle of each; and little charms, enclosed in red and yellow cloth, were attached to the bridle with bits of tinsel.  The Arab saddle and stirrup were in common use; and the whole group presented an imposing appearance.