The evening at Court is passed by the King and his favourite courtiers, with music and the performances of dancing-girls; a variety of fire-work exhibitions; the witticisms of the Court-jesters, and such other amusements as are suited to Asiatic taste.

The magnificent style of celebrating Buckrah Eade at Lucknow is perhaps unequalled by any other Native Court now existing in Hindoostaun.  The rejoicings on this festival are not confined to the higher classes alone; but it is a period of equal interest to every individual of the Mussulmaun community.  The custom of the Court is imitated by the subjects in their several grades, each striving to do honour to the day according to their ability.  The religious classes add, to their usual Namaaz, the appointed prayer for the occasion of Buckrah Eade.

The rich send presents of goats and sheep to their neighbours and to the poor, so that the meanest of the people are enabled to offer sacrifice and rejoice in the good things of which they partake:  new suits of clothes are also distributed to the dependants of the family and to the poor.  In short, on this day, there seems a spirit of benevolence abroad, that is even remarkable beyond the general generosity of their natural character, as all who have any thing to share will assuredly, on this occasion, impart a blessing to the needy, and gratify their friends and acquaintances.

The bride and bridegroom elect exchange presents of goats, &c.; the tutor writes a copy of verses on the day, and presents it to his pupil; the pupil in return sends his tutor a dress and money to enable him to keep Eade with his family.

The ladies dress in their most costly jewels and apparel to receive or pay visits.  The children have their sports and amusements.  Whenever I have entered a Native house on these days, all seemed cheerful and happy, and enjoying themselves in whatever way was most congenial to their particular tastes; ‘every one must be cheerful (they say) on Buckrah Eade’.

On this day, millions of animals are sacrificed in remembrance of Abraham’s faith.  I have often thought how striking is the similarity between the Mosaic and Mussulmaun institutes,—­indeed my recollections of Scripture history have frequently been realized in the views I have had of the domestic habits of the Mussulmauns.  They are forbidden the use of unclean animals; the swine is equally abominable to Mussulmauns as to the Jews; neither are they less scrupulous in discarding from their kitchen any kind of animal food prohibited by their laws, or which has not been killed by one of their faith.  In this process the person, who is to slay, turns the animal’s head towards Mecca, repeats the short appointed prayer, and with one plunge the animal has ceased to feel:  they are expert in the art of despatching life, so that the animal’s sufferings may not be protracted unnecessarily;—­an amiable trait of character and worthy of imitation.