y, but
still harmonious, colours, decked out for the day, and women shrouded
in their blankets, plain wool-white. An open space is left right
through the centre, up a gentle slope, and a dozen horsemen are
spurring and holding in their prancing steeds at yonder lower end.
At some unnoticed signal they have started towards us. They gallop
wildly, the beat of their horses' hoofs sounding as iron hail on the
stony way. A cloud of dust flies upward, and before we are aware of it
they are abreast of us--a waving, indistinguishable mass of flowing
robes, of brandished muskets, and of straining, foaming steeds. We can
just see them tossing their guns in the air, and then a rider, bolder
than the rest, stands on his saddle, whirling round his firearm aloft
without stopping, while another swings his long weapon underneath his
horse, and seizes it upon the other side. But now they are in line
again, and every gun is pointed over the right, behind the back, the
butt grasped by the twisted left arm, and the lock by the right
under the left armpit. In this constrained position they fire at an
imaginary foe who is supposed to have appeared from ambush as they
pass. Immediately the reins--which have hitherto been held in the
mouth, the steed guided by the feet against his gory flanks--are
pulled up tight, throwing the animal upon his haunches, and wheeling
him round for a sober walk back.

This is, in truth, a practice or drill for war, for such is the method
of fighting in these parts. A sortie is made to seek the hidden foe,
who may start up anywhere from the ravines or boulders, and who must
be aimed at instanter, before he regains his cover, while those who
have observed him must as quickly as possible get beyond his range to
reload and procure reinforcements.

The only other active sports of moment, apart from occasional horse
races, are football and fencing, indulged in by boys. The former is
played with a stuffed leather ball some six or eight inches across,
which is kicked into the air with the back of the heel, and caught
in the hands, the object being to drive it as high as possible. The
fencing is only remarkable for its free and easy style, and the
absence of hilts and guards.

Yet there are milder pastimes in equal favour, and far more in
accordance with the fancy of southerners in warm weather, such as
watching a group of jugglers or snake-charmers, or listening to a
story-teller. These are to be met with in the mark