The most curious, and, perhaps, most important of out-door scenes is the _Hustings_. When there is a vacant place in the Lower-Law-House (of the great Council), the Sovereign commands a new member to be chosen by those who have the right, in the town entitled to send. A sort of stage is put up in the market-place, and here those meet who are to be _hustled_ for. Hustings comes from this word, and means _to shake together in confusion_. There are some who wish to send A., others who wish to send B. Accordingly, these are seized by their struggling supporters; each side endeavouring to put upon the stage _its_ man, and each trying to put off the man of the other side! One may judge of the _hustling_. Each candidate submits to every sort of indignity. The _hustlers_ (voters, generally called) are chiefly of the Lower (not Lowest) Caste, and enjoy this privilege mightily. Beyond the immediate actors are the associates of the two parties--not having a right to _hustle_; but, none the less, aiding in the general struggle, by pelting with rotten eggs, garbage, or other harmless (sometimes not harmless) nastiness [phu-fo], the man whom they dislike. Finally, one of the men is got upon the stage; entitled to be the new member for having had the larger number of _indignities_ put upon him, and come out a-top! These are--to have the head-covering driven violently down over the face--to be befouled with stinking eggs and garbage, and all the time to say, "_Free and independent voters_," accompanied by bows and grimaces, intended for _smiles_! If the Lower-House, however, find on examination that some one has hustled twice--that is, thrown two missiles, then the scene must be rëenacted! For it is thought to be too dangerous to allow of this unfairness. If one could do this on the one side, then it would be done on the other; and in the excitement, things harder than mud would be thrown, to the danger of life! As to the outside throwers, the police take care that they do not exceed mud, filth, rotten eggs, and vegetables!