The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-02-26

mouse, Wnlcn was near the cenTe oil the
course, and close to the spot where his
wives and children and ourselves were
sitting. Several men, bearing on theil
heads an immense quantity of arrows, in
huge quivers of leopard skin, came next
followed by two persons who, by theil
extraordinary antics and gestures, we con
Guided to be buif,oons. These last two
were employed in throwing sticks into
the air as they went on, and adraitly catch
ing 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, hou-
rishing cows tails over their heads in all
directions. The king rode EDWARDS, fol-
lowed by number Of fine looking men
on handsome steeds and the motley ca
valcade 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 sa-
lutte, so we accordingly fired three rounds,
and our example was Immediately follow
ed by two soldiers, with muskets, which
were made at least century and 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 their caps and
loose tobes and browsers of every color ::
boots of red morocco leather, and turbans
of white and blue cotton The horses
were gaily caparisoned strings of little
bells covered their heads /; their breasts
were ornamented with bright red cloth
and tassels of silk and cotton; large
quilted pad of neat embroidered patch
work was placed under the saddle of each {;
and little charms, nclosed in red and yell
low cloth, were attached to the bride with
bits of tlnsel.
The signal for starting was made,
and the impatient animals sprang forward
and set off at full g.llop. The riders
brandished their spears, the little boys
ilourished their cows tails, the bulloons
performed their antics, muskets were dis
charged, and the chief himself, mounted
on the finest horse on the ground, watch
ed the progress of the race, while tears of
delight were starting from his eyes. The
sun shone gloriously on the tobes Of
green, white, yellow, blue, and crimson
as they fluttered in the breeze; and with
the fancitul caps, the gllttering spears, the
iingling of the horses bells, the animated
looks and warlike bearing of their riders,
presented one of the most extraordinary
and pleasing sights that we have ever
Witnessed. The race was well contested,
and terminated only by the horses being
fatigued and out of breath but though
every one was emulous to outstrip his
companion, honor and fame were the on
ly reward of competitors.
"A few naked boys, on ponies without
saddles, then rode over the course, after
which the second and last heat commence
ed. This was not by any means so good
as the first, owing TO the greater anxiety
which the horsemen evinced to display
their skill in the use of the spear and the
management of their animals. The king
maintained his seat on horseback during
these amusements, without even once dis
mounting to converse with his wives and
children, who were sitting on the ground
on each side of him. His dress was
snowy rather than rich, consisting of a
red cap, enveloped in the large folds or Il
white muslin turban; two under tobes Of
blue and scarlet cloth, and an outer one
of white muslin, red trousers, and boots
of scarlet and yellow leather. His horse
seemed distressed by the weight of his RI
der and the various ornaments and trap
pings with which his head, breast, and
body were bedecked. The chiefs eldest
and youngest sons were near his women
and other children, mounted on two noble
looking horses. The eldest Of these youths
was about eleven years of age. The
youngest, being not more than three, was
held on the back of his animal by male
attendant, as he was unable to sit upright
in the saddle without this assistance. The
child's dress was i'll suited TO his age
He wore on his head a tight cap of Man
chester cotton, but it overhung the upper
part of his face, and together with its ends
which tapped over each cheek, hid near
ly the whole Of his countenancc from
view his tobc and trousers were made
exactly in the same fashion as those of q
man, and two large bells of blue cotton
which crossed each other, confined the