THE GYMKHANA AT LUXOR 119 



coops on which to sit. A shelter at the back of us 

 to some extent kept off the full strength of the sun, 

 but there was no other suggestion of a stand. The 

 course itself was of the earth, earthy, or sandy — 

 which you will — not more than two furlongs in 

 length, but of abundant width. 



" On this course the worthy chaplain of the place 

 was ubiquitous, mounted on a fine brown donkey, 

 which hack-cantered with him as freely as a man 

 could wish. As Clerk of the Course the rev. gentle- 

 man had much to do, and he did it well. It may 

 interest the anti-gamblers to know that, so far as 

 I could see, there was no sign of any betting through- 

 out the afternoon. On the far side of the course 

 the native contingent mustered in full force, and 

 just about where we should have the carriage 

 enclosure were a score of mounted camels, snarling 

 and grumbling, after their wont. These I thought 

 at first carried the aristocracy of the neighbour- 

 hood, but soon found that they were, in fact, the 

 competitors for the Camel Race, which was the 

 seventh item on the card, or rather ' the pro- 

 gramme,' for there was no card. Let me without 

 further prelude give the programme : 



*' ' Luxor Sporting Club Gymkhana. — Third race 

 meeting of the season, Thursday, January 29, at 

 3 p.m. Programme : 1, Bishareen Bucket Race ; 

 2, Dragoman Victoria Cross Race ; 3, Buffalo Race ; 



