THE GYIMKHANA AT LUXOR 121 



connection seemed a trifle alarming. The judges 

 were a little more to the front, and as they had 

 decided to dash out after each race and seize — 

 Mr. DarHng the first, Mr. Nicholson the second, 

 and Mr. Tytus the third animal — we were at least 

 more secure than they. 



" And now, at 3 p.m., the time had come ; a 

 mounted soldier rode up and down the line on the 

 far side ; the Luxor Hotel Dragoman flogged all 

 small boys within his reach ; and the runners for 

 the Bishareen Bucket Race went down to the 

 start, many of them with their hair in cords after 

 the manner of Russian poodles, carefully dressed 

 with castor oil — fancy that ! In a bucket race you 

 carry a bucket of water on your head, and you 

 win if you get first past the post without losing 

 all the water, which anyhow douses you plenti- 

 fully. On this occasion a small boy, who was 

 given a start, had the race all to himself and won 

 with great ease. 



*' The Dragoman Victoria Cross Race derives its 

 chief interest from the employment of donkeys to 

 carry the men, and one smallish brown donkey 

 displayed form which should make him in great 

 demand on future occasions. This, however, was 

 as nothing to the Buffalo Race, for which fifteen 

 weird-looking, wild- eyed beasts went to the post. 

 Midway on their owners were stationed, and at 



