ere were, besides those engaged in the work, some
thousands or more natives--men, women, and children--crowding round the
corral--the men armed with their long spears in picturesque costume, the
women with children of the colour of bronze, and destitute of a rag of
covering, clinging to them, while many of the young girls were habited
in the graceful robes of that part of the country, with a scarf which,
after being wound round the waist, was thrown over the left shoulder,
leaving the right arm and side free. There were conjurors, and
tumblers, and story-tellers to help to pass the time, but the great
interest was concentrated on the business for which all had collected.

Mr Fordyce had sent forward to have preparations made for our arrival,
and we found a delightfully cool arbour ready for our reception. We had
not only an airy dining-room, but a bed-room a-piece, fitted up with our
tent furniture, while habitations had been run up for our attendants
outside.

"There is nothing like travelling with a mighty, magnificent,
three-tailed bashaw," observed Nowell to me, laughing. "Now, if you and
I had been alone, we should have to rough it by ourselves, with no one
to care for us or look after us."

After we had taken possession of our mansion we strolled out to see what
was going forward. We could not help stopping to watch the feats of a
juggler. First, he jumped upon a pole six feet from the ground, on
which he placed a cross bar, and balancing himself on it made prodigious
leaps from side to side. He had a companion, who assisted him in his
feats, but how they were done it seemed impossible to discover. After
leaping along to some distance, he returned to the centre of the
admiring circle of spectators. Steadying himself on his pole, he caught
a handful of pebbles thrown up to him by his companion. He held his
hand up, and away flew a number of small birds. Next, an egg was thrown
up to him. Holding it in his two hands, he broke it, when out fell a
serpent and glided away among the crowd. After watching the serpent
till it had disappeared, we found that he was keeping a number of brass
balls in constant motion by striking them with his elbows and then with
his hands. He next performed a still more difficult feat. He balanced
on his nose a small stick, which had at the top of it an inverted ball
or cup. From the rim of the cup were suspended by silken threads twelve
balls with holes in them. He next pl