26 RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE RAJPOOTS. 



tions of rank more rigidly marked, than in any other 

 country of the world. Very likely this accounts for it. 

 The position of different classes is so clearly fixed and 

 accepted that no feeling of social degradation can exist. 

 Self-assumption is useless ; the peasant converses with his 

 lord with much of the well-bred familiarity of a courtier 

 chatting to his king, and there is none of that half-defined 

 feeling of shame and grudging envy which probably pro- 

 duces the " I'm just as good as you " manner of the English 

 and American lower classes. 



Presently the Maharaja arrived at a gallop in a funny 

 little red landau, very like Tom Thumb's at Madame 

 Tussaud's. He was sleeping peacefully, and followed by a 

 straggling escort on small ponies. Their appearance sug- 

 gested the " Forty Thieves," and, if half that we are told is 

 true, they don't belie it. 



At the next change there were no horses at all. Ours 

 distinctly refused to go beyond their usual stage, and 

 behaved like fiends, turning sharp round, backing into the 

 cliffs, then going a few yards at a wild gallop, and finally 

 running over the naked foot of a syce who was attempting 

 to lead them. The poor man was dreadfully cut, but he was 

 very plucky, and in a few minutes got up in front again 

 and we struggled anew to get on. 



After this the horses had it much their own way, and 1 

 was very glad when we found fresh ones at the next stage. 



