unpleasing. The clothes and wraps which the men and women wore were of
various gay colours, and were, in most cases, embroidered quite skilfully
with representations of flowers, fruits, wild beasts, and individuals of
grotesque appearance. Every one was crowned with either flowers or
feathers.

But, most remarkable of all, there was scarcely a person in this large
gathering who did not bring or lead some wild bird or beast. The girls
carried young wild doves, young rooks, or the nestlings of such small
fowls as sparrows and finches. It was a pretty sight to see these poor
uninstructed young women, flushed with the exertion of climbing, and
merry, flocking into the square, each with her pet (as I supposed, but
the tender mercies of the heathen are cruel) half hidden in the folds of
her gown. Of the young men, some carried hawks, some chained eagles,
some young vultures. Many were struggling, too, with wild stags and wild
goats, which they compelled with the utmost difficulty to march in the
ranks of the procession. A number of young persons merely bore in their
hands such fruits as were in season, obviously fine specimens, of which
they had reason to be proud.

Others, again, were carrying little young bears, all woolly, comfortable-
looking creatures, while the parent bears, adult bears at any rate, were
brought along, chained, in the rear. My guards, or adorers, or whatever
the young men who looked after me really were, led me forward, and made
signs to me that I was to bring up the rear of the procession--behind the
bears, which made no attempt (as in the case of the prophet) to take the
part of a Minister of the Bungletonian Connection. What a position for
one who would fain have been opening the eyes of this darkened people to
better things! But, till I had acquired some knowledge of their
language, I felt my only chance was to acquiesce in everything not