84 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



dent gold lace caps ; they smoked the biggest of hubble- 

 bubbles ; they rejoiced in trousers whose tightness pre- 

 cluded the idea of removal at night or at other times ; 

 and they wore "Coachwans" of the darkest type. 

 As they did not trouble themselves to get up very 

 early, we were always in time to see them arrive on 

 the course arrayed in all their bravery, and mounted 

 each on his respective steed, as doubtless the tight- 

 ness of their pyjamas prevented them from walking 

 the half mile which intervenes between the Victoria 

 Hotel and the racecourse. No sooner had these 

 three little negro boys, as Captain Franks used to 

 call them, arrived on the galloping track, than they 

 amused themselves by racing round with their cap tassels 

 flying over their horses' tails and their toes stuck out 

 well in front of their animals' noses. And then they 

 cantered home to their breakfasts and their hiikkas. 

 No wonder that Navan'no gave us in the Derby ot 

 that year no taste of the excellence which he subse- 

 quently displayed under improved management. And 

 Kurreem, how changed is he since those salad days of 

 his hot youth ! The schooling he had in the King- 

 craft stable under Kelly, Kurreem Beg, and Ramchurn 

 screwed his head a bit tighter on ; lowered his fists 



