The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-09-25

perately to a long lance, which is trail
ing along the ground, with the other.
A dozen men rush forward to stop the
horse, but he eludes them, knocking
M down, and it is not until half the
course has been traversed that he is
stopped opposite the grand stand. the
child having stuck to him and the lance
with the greatest determination, to the
delight of the people, who cheer the
plucky little fellow as Justify as they
know how. A rope is now stretched
across the course; four red silk bags,
containing the prizes, none of them
over two hundred dollars, are laid on
the ground. There is Il greet stir, and
a dozen fine horses, all Turcomans, are
led forward. The jockeys are dressed
in top-boots, wide trousers of Man
chester cotton, gorgeous gold-laced
coats and have gay colored shawls over
their heads.
One old stager, who hasled his horse
some twenty yards ahead, under the
wall, suddenly gives a wild yell,
loosens his horses head, and before the
Mirakah or head groom, who acts as
starter, can do any thing, the whole
dozen are after him, yelling like de-
mons, and the race has commenced;
the Shah. to whom the horse belonged,
evidently enjoying the joke.
This a C is six times round, equal to
twelve miles, which, considering the
nature of the course, and that the
horses gallop all the way, is a evere
trial, and many OF the horses pull up
hopclessly ruined. The time occupied
was twenty-scVen minutes, twenty-cight
seconds; won by Il of the principal
merchants. The next race. ten miles,
was won by q horse owned by the
Naib-i-Sultma. The third race, eight
miles, also Naib-i~ Sultana The fourth
race, six miles, was won by N of the
Shah's horses in twelve minutes, fifty
five seconds. in this race the third
horse came in riderlcss, having fallen
and broken his Jockeys thigh. This,
however, did not lose him the third
prize. The last two races, four miles
each, were won by the Naib-i-Sultana
and q merchant, respectively. A pc
feature in the racing here is the
absence Of all betting.
This perhaps may be partly accounted
for by the fact that whenever q horse
not owned by the Shah appeared likely
to win, his (the Shah's) otlicious at
PENDANTS rushed forward with sticks
and stones and e~ndeavored to drive
the pre<uming rider back; this was the
cause OF the accident in the fourth race,
one horse shying and falling, the next
one tumbling on top of him.
After the racing there was Il march
past Of the troops, which occupied two
hours. First came a company of sap
pcrs; these excited the amusement
Of many of the sightsocrs, who did not
understand soldiers fighting with such
weapons, one critic near me remark
They must be the grave
liggers!' These were followed by
two thousand infantry, who pre-
sented quite a respectable appearance,
compared with last year, and had they
been sorted a little into equal sizes,
and taught not to quarrel, talk in the
or dodge around the puddles in
the road, would have passed muster
very well.
Here and there taking a place in the
ranks Il boy in civilian dress was
marching, all unconscious of being out
of place. In another instance, when
ordered to keep in line, n dozen voices
from the ranks cried out: "There's
no room; the road is too narrow etc.
Immediately after the infantry, an en-
terprising gentleman on horseback, in
a borrowed suit of ancient armor,
mace and shield complete, solemnly
rode into the ranks and endeavored to
march by the grand stand. He was
and led away, amid the jcers
and laughter of the onlookors. Fol
on came fifty brass nluzzle-
guns, escorted by two thou
sand cavalry, the horses wearing heavy
silver neck and chest bands, each
squad of twenty-four being led by
officers, some with drawn swords,
others with drawn riding-whips, but
but all with massive gold trappings on
horses.
These were in turn succeeded by
three thousand cavalry, with plain har-
ness, but well dressed, well mounted,
md fairly well disciplined. Next in
order came some five hundred Persian
Cossacks, escortlng two handsome
breechloaders, These they galloped
by in excellent style, and the pro-
gramme was complete.
The scene ON the return journey was
one Of picturesque confusion, an ire
pressible boy taking advantage OF the
same to climb over the royal carriage
lnmolested. AT the city gate the royal
band, mounted on camels with red
.trappings, were inextricably mixed
with an immense crowd of horsemen,
pedestrians and carriages. all trying to