Sporting Notes in the Far East. 101 



the same construction as those encountered in Kildare; with this 

 exception, that the ditches or cuttings, on either side, where much 

 deeper ; and in the Autumn were perfectly blind, being filled up 

 to the very top with rank vegetation. 



But this mattered not : the " happy " combination, of plenty of 

 weigh, a loose rein, and a free head, generally effected a scramble 

 to the top ; and this accomplished, the dropping down the other 

 side, was not a matter of such consequence, as the falling was 

 quite soft. Besides, after seeing a pony and rider totally disappear 

 into one of these blind gulfs ; it was sometimes quite interesting 

 to surmise, which would appear first. 



It was always found necessary to have at least three hares to 

 lay the paper, as one or more of their horses, were sure to be 

 " sewn up," before the run was finished. 



I remember that the day's proceedings, would generally wind 

 up, with an universal race for the stables. Which performance 

 usually consisted, of about twenty or thirty excitable horsemen, 

 spurring and flogging, and going as hard as ever they could lay legs 

 to the ground, slap through the main street of the town. Poor 

 ponies ! and why people were not killed ; goodness only knows ? 



What days those were ! and how one did sleep after them : per- 

 haps snatching from the close embrace of old Morpheus : a few 

 brief moments, for a flitting dream of the long since heard 

 rattling view-holloa, which preceded those slashing gallops, over 



