In troops as above.
The opposing troops faced each other at a distance of about fifty yards, and at a given signal charged in upon each other. "B" troop gained a slight advantage ut the first onslaught, and some of their men were thus able to help their comrades tougher opponents. After sume exciting all. of "A" Troop were unhorsed, saving " B" Troop easy victors, No. 9.—Balaclava Melee, In troops as above. Competitors were provided with dummy swords and cockades; the object of the competition was to break their opponent's cockades. An opponent's pony could not be hit. Competitors had to keep within boundaries which were pointed out. Competitors whose cockades were broken were considered as dead and had to retire at once.
'The competitors were armed with stuffed brown-paper swords, and the fight was a fast and furious one. The cockades were so firmly fastened that in order to dislodge them their owners' hats had to be knocked off too. An officer supplied new swords to those who broke ¥i their weapons, and backwards and for- 8"! wards over the turf the warriors charged, and at others times having the enemy. Gradually "A" Troop' wore trampled in the mud, and fir determined Knight gave his enemies a long chase before he was headed off and hia cockade was wrenched off.
This concluded the gymkhana and the visitors then adjourned to the mess tent and there partook of tes and light refreshments, while the Town Band, which had also been discoursing sweet' music daring the afternoon, played in an adj ing shed.
The umpires, whose task was by no means a light one, were Major B. A. Clarke, Capt. Collier, and Lieut. Susemibl.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.