Gambling On The Weather

They have no pools in Ajnier, Inclin, ncitiier anyiaws prohibiting pool-selling, nejther any horse-races, regattas, br.se-bnll inatehes nor Presidential elections whereon to bet. Therefóre the residentes bet on the wcathci-, ftret eonsnltiug eertain looal seers great repute tor thoir woather wisdom. After the "straight tip" lias been purchased from one of tlie prophcts, the buyer cominpnoes bellowing that he will take or lay eortain odds nbont the fall of r;iin within a giwu time. The ordinary quotations are sixteen to one against heavy rain coming down within tweuty-four honrs, eight to oue against a Hght shower happening, and longer odds in botli casos as the time is reduced. Wlien the weather liappens to be exceptionalJy variable, the wliole street becomes blocked by an excited throng of gamblers. As the honr approaohes for the majority of the beta to be decided the more nervous gamblers are heard offering their chancos of winning at a heavy discount. Tiiis allows the weather prophets an opportunity of "hodging" at considerable advantage, and it frequeutly liappens that the book of an old seer will show a certainty of gnin whether ram fnlls or not. With "Old Trobabilitios" over there, how the man who read the weather reports at Caleutt-a or Bombay aud his agent at Ajmer could scoop in the unwary natives !