order, and British troops are on duty in the
enclosures keeping the gates, serving refreshments, and assisting
in the totalisator. The latest attraction has been the admirable
rendering of popular music by the Band of the Queen's Bays.

"INCIDENTS AT THE RACES.

"Of amateur jockeys and gentlemen riders there have been plenty;
among the most successful being Lieut.-Col. Vincent, R.A.S.C.,
Major Walker, R.A., Capt. Sir Robin Paul, Lieut. Dowling. We much
missed Lieut. Stanley Wooten, of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, who
has hitherto been such a popular rider in the E.E.F. Major-Gen. Sir
Harry MacAndrew, C.B., D.S.O., Lieut.-Gen. Sir H.G. Chauvel,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G., have all, in turn, shown much interest in the
races, and Gen. Geaffar Pasha, the Military Governor of Aleppo, and
successor to Gen. Shukri Pasha (generally known to us as 'Sugary
Parsnips'), often enters one of his beautiful Arab chargers in the
Arab class races, and is often successful. His jockey rides in the
colours of the Hedjaz Army, red, white, black and green.

[Illustration]

"But the horses are now paraded in the paddock, and we must go and
inspect them. This is an Arab race, and all sorts of conditions of
men and horses are in the ring, and a terrific hubbub is going on.
Some of the ponies are well groomed, and fit, others thin and badly
cared for. Some have long unkempt manes and tails, others are
bedecked with beads and shells and long scarlet tassels. Saddle
cloths of brilliant hue are numerous, while the riders are a
curious and a motley assembly. Some bare-foot, some booted and
spurred (and a spur is a spur with an Arab, something after the
implement mother marks the pastry with). Others are in long flowing
robes with the burnous and kafeia of the Bedouin flying in the
wind, some with knives, some with swords, some with pistols, and
some with sticks, and lastly two are dressed like real jockeys, and
they know it, and show it too! Just now there is a little of chaos
as half the competitors are evidently of the opinion that they
should go round the paddock in one direction, while the other half
wishes to go the reverse. Wherefore there is loud shouting and much
gesticulating, with many 'Waheds' and 'Achmeds' and 'Macknoons'.

"ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE THERE.