328 RACING IN CEYLON 



the road was covered deep In sand, and 

 would of itself have been no s^reat draw- 

 back, except that Its presence sometimes 

 induced a bolt. The grand stand was the 

 club-house, open at its upper storey to all 

 the "alrts that blow," and most convenient 

 for seeing the racing, as there was not 

 another tree or bulldino- on the course to 

 intercept the view. All the Europeans 

 congregated there, while the natives, In 

 every description of vehicle and on foot, 

 crowded on the ropes of the run - In. 

 Among the supporters of the meeting from 

 a distance were generally some Southern 

 Indian stables, and for a number of years 

 the late Maharajah of Johore. He had 

 some good horses, but the only one of 

 his I recollect was rather the reverse — 

 Peter Simple. A cousin of mine originally 



