Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/271

Rh promiscuous throng, comprehending as many pedestrians as equestrians, clad in the most gaudy colours, and glittering with silver and gold and burnished steel. The people on foot frequently surpass the riders in numbers, each horseman being attended by a dismounted Syce or groom, who, when there is a vast multitude of persons assembled, carries a spear to prevent the collision of other chargers: added to these syces are vast numbers of attendants of various descriptions, who swell the trains of the great men of the party, and they contrive to keep up with their mounted companions throughout the day's journey or sport. The variety of animals which are put into requisition on these occasions, adds considerably to the singularity and gaiety of the scene—the stately elephant, with its housings of scarlet and gold, its gilded howdah, surmounted by a glittering chattah, (umbrella) and its silver bells—the less dignified camel, with its head nodding high in the air, a strange kind of saddle on its arched back, whereon perchance two men are perched, and a jingling necklace decorating its long neck—while every kind of steed, from the noble Arab to the shaggy tattoo or native pony, figures off in the groupe, some of the former with their tails dyed of bright scarlet, their saddles inlaid with gold, their bridles and stirrups of silver, bearing riders attired in rich gold brocade, sparkling with gems, and gleaming with the many coloured shawls of Cashmere.