112 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



in circumference ; and it was hedged in everywhere, 

 with scarcely even a gap, by mounted Arabs, each 

 with his long gun slung over his shoulder or held 

 upright before him. These were the goums, or fight- 

 ing forces, of the tribes in the neighbourhood, a wild- 

 looking set of warriors, to some extent in the French 

 service. Mixed up with these, or galloping fussily 

 about the plain, were the spahis, looking in their 

 scarlet burnouses like fox-hunting Arabs at a meet. 

 These form another military force, a highly organised 

 and ef6.cient body. Away to the left a great mass of 

 red breeches indicated the presence of the irrepressible 

 soldier, always conspicuous at a French ceremony, 

 doubly so when the ceremony takes place in French 

 Africa. The centre of the circle was evidently being 

 kept sacred for some special persons or purpose, and 

 was occupied by only a few soldiers and some dozen 

 mounted Arabs. The grand stand was a creditable 

 affair, all things considered ; at any rate, it had the 

 great merit of offering shelter from the beams of an 

 African sun, for which reason we sought its protection 

 speedily. 



' According to the '' correct card," there was 

 certainly no lack of excitement in store for us. 

 Instead of the paltry four or five races that Mr. 

 Dorling promises at Epsom, there were at least 

 twenty. There were races for poulains et i)oidiclies, 

 colts and fillies, bred in the province, and for horses 

 the property of heads of tents, and for horses of 



