Europeans in general _peel_ much better than natives, though the latter, being generally taller and more equally-sized, look better, I think, in a body; nevertheless, amongst the sepoys are frequently found men, models of symmetry and muscular vigour, with whom few Europeans would be able to cope. Their great degree of strength is, however, in general, artificially induced by the continued practice of gymnastics, the _magdas_, or clubs, and the use of the iron-stringed bow, &c. I arrived at Sultanpore during the great Mahomedan festival of the _Mohurrum_, and the cantonment, neighbouring bazaars, and villages, were resounding with firing and shouting. This festival, as is pretty well known to all in any degree acquainted with Oriental history, is held in honour of the martyrdom of Hussain and Hosein, the sons of Ali, who fell on the fatal field of Kerbela, a catastrophe beautifully told by Gibbon, and which even he, who attaches no belief to the pretensions of Mahomed, can hardly peruse without emotion. If such are the feelings of the infidel, what must be those of the believer? The _Sunni_ makes it a season of silent grief and humiliation, whilst the _Sheahs_, or followers of Ali, abandon themselves to the wildest and most passionate demonstrations of sorrow. _Tazeahs_, or representations of the shrine of Kerbela, of all sizes and shapes, more or less richly adorned with gilding, &c., are borne daily in procession for a period of many days, followed by crowds of the faithful, shouting “Hussain! Hosein!” beating their breasts, and indulging the most violent semblance of grief. My friend, the cornet, drove me out one evening to witness the _tumasha_ (sport). As we approached the spot where the greatest concourse was assembled, my ears were saluted by alternate shouts of what I was subsequently informed were intended for the words “Hussain, Hosein,” but uttered by the whole mass as sharply and compactly as a well-delivered platoon fire, or the fitful escapes of steam from an engine. The English soldier, with the natural proneness of honest John Bull to effect a national assimilation whenever he can, calls these processions “Hobson, Jobson;” and it is but fair to allow, that “Hussain, Hosein,” when shouted forth in the manner described, sound exceedingly like “Hobson, Jobson.” On reaching the dense crowd, in the centre of which the tazeah, like a ship on a heaving sea, rocked to and fro, a wild scene of excitement met our view. Here were numbers of Mahomedan troopers, in their undress, many of them carrying tulwars[48] under their arms, with fakeers, servants, and bazaar people, all lustily lamenting the fate of Hussain and Hosein.