The shops were all lighted up by lanterns or small lamps, and the streets were filled with troops, now dismissed from duty, and bent, some on amusement, some in purchasing small additions to their rations with the scanty pay allowed to them.

In the open spaces, the soldiers were crowded round performers of various kinds.

Here was a juggler throwing balls and knives into the air.

There was a snake charmer--a Hindoo, doubtless, but too old and too poor to be worth persecuting.

A short distance off was an acrobat turning and twisting himself into strange postures.
Two sword players, with bucklers and blunted tulwars, played occasionally against each other, and offered to engage any of the bystanders.