The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-07-23
RERARKABLE sPECTACLR,
a SCENE IN THE MANS CAPITOL.

| describes remarkable spectacle which he
witnessed In Hyderabad on the 29th of
April last:
"On the fifth day of the Mohurrum, in
accordance with an old custom, which OBJ
tains only, am told, in Hyderabad, all
the armed bands of the city defile through
the streets, and pass in review before the
Nizam. The occasion is called the sLun-
gar day About half-past twelve the
procession begun, and from that time till
past five continuous stream of armed
men trampled past on their way to the
Nlzam's palace, with very few halts or
checks in a sort of orderly disorder.
The greater part Of the men were Arabs,
small, ragged, active, ferocious>looking
fellows, clad scantily and dirlily, but each
bearing a marvellous armament of weap-
ons Each band was preceded by four or
five musicians beating shrill little tOmtoms.
Then came, generally, party of spears
men, carrying enormous lances, the points
of which reached, without any exaggera-
ton, half way to the housetops. A large
bundle of horse hair, or something like it,
fiuttered just below the spearhead, and in
the narrow street these weapons, borne in
close array, looked like an Arab 'Birnam'
wood advancing upon Deccany 'Dunsi-
nane.' They were followed Immediately
by the main column of the Arabs, march
lRg with no attempt at precision of regu-
iarlty beyond keeping TO loose forma-
tion of lfours. These men carried at the
slope long theatrical-looking matchlocks,
ornamented profusely with silver, and in
their left hands they held the matches all
alight.
"Those who are fond of studying the
varieties of the human physiognomy, par
ticularly the more malignant and diaboli-
! cal of them, must have had a rare treat
in watching these Arabs. They are with
out exception the most genuine set of raS-
Gals, to judge from their faces, that it
would be possible to collect from the
slums of Asia. To do them justice, they
are immensely picturesque, and look as if
they could fight. In the centre of the
column the noble or person of high degree
| who maintained these interesting adherents
was borne along, reclining in magnificent
howdah, upon at all and richly capari-
soned elephant. The housings of these
animals were in most cases lavishly deco
rated with gold or silver, or occasionally
even with jewels. The elephants were
invariably painted all over, and looked
like moving images of gold and gems
carrying towers of scarlet cloth and silver
Many of the howdahs were of solid silver,
with glass panels.
ssBand after band of these Arabs, with
their liege lords, passed, till the eye grew
wearied of the endless snake-like column.
and the ear of the wild, quaint, half shout,
half chant that they kept up without ces-
sation. Every now and then fat pranc-
ing horse was led by, riderless, with ap-
pointments of the most gorgeous descrip-
ton. Some of the brides, wrought of
solid gold, were as beautiful as they were
costly. Round the horses necks were
suspended seven or eight rows of neck
laces of bell-sbaped ornaments, some in
silver, some in gold. The saddle cloths
were invariably superb!y embroidered
and stiff with gold The wealth that
some of these animals carried upon their
backs must have been perfect fortune in
ITSELF
HSeveral troops of horsemen in fantas-
tic attire, and mounted upon miserable
Screws passed at intervals, headed by
drummer with kettle-drums Various
| sorts of devices, representing monkeys,
swans, tigers, &c, were borne aloft on
poles by noisy parties in the airiest of
costumes, and lodging in and out between
| the ranks of the armed men and the dense
| throng of the spectators came numerous
mummers, engaged in what our buffers
call 'tigering' They were painted from
head to foot, struck all over with gold
leaf, and carried on each shoulder bunch
| of peacock feathers. Occasionally groups
of men bearing baskets full of rockets and
squibs came along, while one of them
kept lighting the fireworks and sending
| them straight up into the air with loud
phizz. About four o'clock in the after
noon the tones of the trumpet and the
measured roll of drums announced that
the Nizam's regular troops were ap-
preaching, and in a few minutes the
motley array os matchbox and spearman
had passed away, and was succeeded by
the comparatively trim ranks of disciplined
regiments
cat the head of the column came the
really fine band of the African body
guard. This corps IS composed OF 'pucka'
Africans, with the woolly head, thick
lips and coal-black hue, all complete.
Their uniform consists of red fez, with
dark blue tassel, dark blue pelisse laced
with silver, open in the front. and display
ing a scarlet undercoat or waistcoat laced
with silver, dark blue pantaloons and
iack~boots. They are armed with sabre
and carbine, and their saddles and horse
appointments are on the model of the Eu-
ropean hussar equipment. They were
well turned out, and tolerably well mount
ed. Following them came regiment of
lancers, really soldierly-looking set of
men, infinitely superior, in my humble
opinion, as to physique and getting up, to
the Africans. OF course we had but
passing glimpse Of them, bat they appear