226 THE CARNIVAL AT ROME. 



these annoyances. But the more elegant pelt each other only with 

 bunches of flowers or bon-bons the less elegant with egg-shells full 

 of flour, or handfuls of pounded chalk. 



It is easier to conceive than describe the different encounters which 

 take place in the general skirmish. Sometimes a pair of combatants, 

 beginning at first piano, piano, gradually lose a little temper, and ad- 

 vancing from crescendo to forte, only stop because their shot is ex- 

 hausted, by which time they are generally both as white as millers. 

 Sometimes two carriages, in passing each other, stop for an instant 

 to fire a broadside, which leaves terrible traces on velvets and satins. 

 Another party, posted in a balcony, and selecting some commanding 

 corner, with the skill of a Wellington, hail down such showers on the 

 passers by that to escape is all they can do and the crowd often 

 prevents that. At the end of the day the ground is quite white, as if 

 after a violent hail storm. No one is ever supposed to be offended 

 with any thing that occurs. Are you pelted, you must pelt in return. 

 A person stops you in the crowd, and tries to raise a laugh against 

 you make the best use of your wits in reply. A mask gets up be- 

 hind your carriage, on the box, and even into it but, as he generally 

 behaves with the utmost civility, all you can do is to laugh at his im- 

 pudence. 



When this scene of confusion and fun has reached its greatest 

 height, which is at about half-past four, a cannon is fired on the Ca- 

 pitol to give notice that the Corso is to be cleared of carriages for the 

 race, and the same signal is repeated along the line, and answered 

 by another cannon in the Piazza del Populo. In a few minutes the 

 guns again fire, and it is then supposed that the street is occupied 

 by pedestrians alone; and it is really surprizing with what precision, 

 and in how little time, every vehicle disappears. But the whole Ro- 

 man people are so practised year after year in the details of the car- 

 nival that they execute each of its movements almost as mechanically 

 as a soldier on drill performs his exercise. Now, when the carriages 

 are gone, succeeds another and a greater difficulty to open a pas- 

 sage for the horses through the crowd. Various are the means em- 

 ployed, but none are effectual longer than for a moment. First, half 

 a score of dragoons charge the multitude, and gallop along the course. 

 The multitude opens and closes again as the waves rush on in the 

 track of a steamer. Then a party of infantry march along, dropping 

 a soldier on each side of the street, every five or ten yards, to keep 

 open a passage, if he can. And, lastly, a body of foot soldiers, ex- 

 actly the breadth of the street, march along-, and sweep before them 

 every one who is not included within the prescribed limits. But, 

 even then, except just near the starting-place, the motley mass closes 

 in again, led on, perhaps, by some half-dozen masks, who in general 

 consider themselves privileged persons. 



Suppose, then, that the course is clear, that each dragoon is posted 

 in his nook, that the guns are again primed and loaded, that all is 

 ready. Quick, then, to the Populo, for it is an anxious moment ! 

 The rope is stretched across the course, and, hark ! Bang ! the 

 cannons. The gates are opened, and, look ! there are the horses, 

 plunging and kicking the grooms can scarcely hold them. They 



