50 
At this Hacks. 
several weeks before, is secretly notified to the black population. Tues- 
day appears — the Police scatter themselves in the environs and soon re- 
turn to Georgetown accompanied by negroes dripping with blood. 
181. A good fighting-cock is the most treasured possession of a negro, 
the object of bis tenderest endearment; in fact, a well trained champion 
that keeps itself hardy and bold, yields its owner but little less than the 
best race-horse. Indeed, the rage for betting lias so greatly increased 
since Ihe prohibition, that rings are immediately formed on the streets 
as soon as a fight, occurs among the scattered fowls, the favourable op- 
portunity for giving vent to it being gladly seized. Should such a for- 
tunate accident happen on a farm, and there are no other spectators to 
wager with, the son bets against bis father, the father against the mother, 
and God help him who wants to stop the sport by unseasonable inter- 
ference. 
1S2. As to the upper classes, for those fond of betting, the Turf Club 
Meetings were days to be looked forward to and enjoyed. It was then 
that one could search in vain for a healthy negro throughout the whole 
city: indeed, the very servants would immediately throw up their situa- 
tions were the master or mistress to prevent them taking part. 
183. The streets fill at daybreak, and dense crowds indicate where 
bets are already being booked. Rigged out in the most beau- 
tiful of the beautiful that his wardrobe comprises, in white 
trousers, dazzling a long way off, a blue dress coat and 
glittering vest, with a fuming cigar in one hand and a 
faultless stick in the other, the negro, full of hope, hastens to the Course. 
I shall never forget my first Georgetown Race-Meeting with an atten- 
dance of at least 10 to 12,000 negroes, whom the whole of the police force 
was unable to control. 
181. The animals nominated for the races are kept in special trel- 
lis-worked horse-boxes under the two equally large Grand-Stands for 
the aristocracy and coloured people, where the track starts 
and ends. Running the eye of an expert over his particular 
favourite, the negro makes his choice and with victorious step 
hastens to bet with the first person he meets. The signal for a start 
is likewise the signal for a fight on the flat. Words to soothe them on 
the part of the peace officers are words wasted in the wind : better re- 
sults are obtained with the 18-inch long staves, weighted at one end by 
lead, with which they whack in % time the heated heads of the de- 
linquents, who are dragged by the feet out of the dense Crowds, it being 
out of the question for them to come along without resistance. The now 
empty horse-boxes under the grandstands are occupied by the bleeding, 
cursing, and unfortunate bookies vainly exerting themselves to get out, 
and where, like Tantalus, they are prevented profiting by a winner or 
loser. Truly I have never seen an angered tiger, lion, or raving baboon, 
shaking and tearing at the bars of its cage more furiously than these 
negroes boiling with rage at those of their particular stall until at last, 
their exhausted rage finds gratification in the thrilling blows which, as 
'urely as B. follows A., take place amongst those finding themselves in 
one and the same horse-box. 
