The amusements of boys in India differ widely from the juvenile sports of the English youth; here there are neither matches at cricket nor races; neither hoops nor any other game which requires exercise on foot.  Marbles they have, and such other sports as suit their habits and climate, and can be indulged in without too much bodily exertion.  They fly kites at all ages.  I have seen men in years, even, engaged in this amusement, alike unconscious that they were wasting time, or employing it in pursuits fitted only for children.  They are flown from the flat roofs of the houses, where it is common with the men to take their seat at sunset.  They are much amused by a kind of contest with kites, which is carried on in the following manner.  The neighbouring gentlemen, having provided themselves with lines, previously rubbed with paste and covered with pounded glass, raise their kites, which, when brought in contact with each other by a current of air, the topmost string cuts through the under one, when down falls the kite, to the evident amusement of the idlers in the streets or roadway, who with shouts and hurrahs seek to gain possession of the toy, with as much avidity as if it were a prize of the greatest value:  however, from the numerous competitors, and their great zeal to obtain possession of it, it is usually torn to pieces.  Much skill is shown in the endeavours of each party to keep his string uppermost, by which he is enabled to cut that of his adversary’s kite.

The male population are great pigeon-fanciers, and are very choice in their breed, having every variety of the species they can possibly procure; some are brought from different parts of the world at an enormous expense.  Each proprietor of a flock of pigeons knows his own birds from every other.  They are generally confined in bamboo houses erected on the flat roofs of the mansions, where at early dawn and at sunset the owner takes his station to feed his pets and give them a short airing.  Perhaps a neighbour’s flock have also emerged from their cages at the same time, when mingling in the circuit round and round the buildings (as often happens), one or more from one person’s flock will return home with those of another; in which case, they are his lawful prize for ever, unless his neighbour wishes to redeem the captives by a price, or by an exchange of prisoners.  The fortunate holder, however, of such prize makes his own terms, which are perhaps exorbitant, particularly if he have any ill-will against the proprietor, or the stray pigeon happen to be of a peculiarly rare kind.[13] Many are the proofs of good breeding and civility, elicited on such occasions between gentlemen; and many, also, are the perpetuated quarrels where such a collision of interests happens between young men of bad feelings, or with persons having any previous dislike to each other.