REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 59 



Roses were sold at a rupee each, on condition that they 

 should be placed in the button hole of the purchaser, by the 

 fair seller, but perhaps the most profitable sale of all was 

 that of a bottle of scent which realised in sprinkles on hand- 

 kerchiefs nearly Rs. 50. 



The native fair was an average one, and the usual variety 

 of booths was to be seen. The shops had rather improved 

 during late years, and some of the exhibitions of glass were 

 really good. A brisk business seemed to be done in native 

 wares, and brightly shone the colors in the cap shops where 

 the native jeunnesse dore of Behar could ornament their heads 

 to the extreme of fashion. 



The horse fair was good as regards weight-carrying 

 Caboolis, but that was all; there were scarcely any decent 

 looking country or stud bred horses, and the show of Rung- 

 pore ponies was poor, while there was not a single good hairy 

 Hubshee, a class which used formerly to be well represented 

 at Sonepore. There was, as usual, a diminutive pony; he was 

 nine hands and one inch in height, but not well proportioned. 

 The elephant fair was good, and several fine animals were 

 bought. 



On the whole, the meeting was decidedly a good one, 

 and everything went off most pleasantly, without "rows" or 

 disputes about anything. A few points about racing were 

 raised, but the Stewards settled them, and nothing more was 

 said, to the credit of those who raised the questions. There 

 was still the vain effort made to bring Arabs and Australians 

 together. In the Winners' Handicap, Rocket was treated to 

 I2st. the Arab winner getting 6st. ylbs. The attendance was 

 considerable, though there were one or two camping grounds 

 vacant, and certainly the civilians of Behar did not muster as 

 strongly as usual. The fulminations of the High Court perhaps 

 kept away the Judges, but besides the bench some others 

 were massed who might have been expected as certainties. 



