234 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



handed war until a large crowd collected in my aid. 

 This, however, seemed ungallant, and I retired, when 

 the ladies closed the shutters of the balcony win- 

 dows. I did not mind the wetting. I was charitable 

 enough to appreciate that I had at least afforded them 

 some sport, for it was an unfrequented spot, and, 

 indeed, they afterwards informed me that they 

 had only had the opportunity before my arrival of 

 soaking a few wretched Indians and a postman, and 

 that when they saw me they were about to send out 

 their servant to implore me to come and play. 



But the evening's adventures were not yet at an 

 end. Having obtained my letters, I put them for 

 security against wetting in an inner pocket, and pre- 

 pared for the return journey useless to look for a 

 vehicle, for all were occupied. A favourite dodge of 

 people in the balconies is to tie a bag of flour to 

 a stout cord, and when any one passes below to let 

 it swiftly down, striking them on the hat, and then to 

 haul it rapidly up again. This appears to afford them 

 keen delight, and many are the unwary foot-passengers 

 who are caught in this way. So it befell me. I felt 

 a stunning bang on the head, but instantly realizing 

 what it was, I reached quickly upward with my stick 

 and successfully hooked the bag. In vain they pulled 

 from above, and in vain they poured down torrents of 

 water, for the floor of the balcony under which I stood 

 acted as a shelter, and I retained my hold. At last 

 I heard appealing voices, and, peering upwards, I saw 

 three faces bending over young ladies again for 

 women are, I think, the principal perpetrators of these 

 affairs whom I knew. They begged me to let go, 

 as they did not want to lose their weapon. I promised 



