Circus is a word of Roman origin (appropriately enough) and referred to the large circular venue used for public events. Like the Greek hippodrome, it was used for horse and chariot races, but also for games and gladiatorial contests. Aside from the races, the games were brutal and filled with gore – for which reason the Greeks, even under Roman domination, never really accepted the circus. Mauritius, it seems, has – but then so has Modern Greece.

The riders would go round and round the circle, just as politicos today go round and round in circles as they speak. It’s very sad that the art of public speaking has been lost, suggesting police involvement as they are experts at losing everything, especially if it can be sold on at nine guineas an ounce. Meanwhile, the Circus here has become increasingly full of clowns, unfortunately with limited vision and often all at sea even when on dry land.

The earliest ancestors of the clown flourished in Ancient Greece. They parodied the actions of more serious characters and wore short tunics, often with artificial appendages strapped around their loins. They sometimes pelted the spectators with nuts, presumably taken from a tree rather than their padded midriffs. Nuts still abound here at election times and even get elected. Although the word clown didn’t come into use until the 16th century, jesters have been in evidence from much earlier. Ancient China had them attached to the Imperial Court as long ago as the Zhou Dynasty. One Yu Sze was clown to Ch’in Shih Huang-ti, who built the Great Wall of China. A more recent clown plans to build the Great Wall of Mexico.

John Scogan was jester to King Edward IV and was unusual in that he was an Oxford scholar. He loved practical jokes – unfortunately our own Oxford scholars tend to become jokes in their own right. Anyway, Scogan made one joke too many and Edward promptly banished him to France, a fate worse than death. It’s what should be done to Brexiteers. The Chronicle’s favourite comes from the East. Bahalul had a lively wit and hid his observations under a cloak of simplicity. When asked by the caliph, Haroun al-Rashid, to procure a list of all the fools in Baghdad, Bahalul replied, “That would be difficult… but if you desire to know the wise men, the catalogue may soon be completed!” You might ask someone to produce a catalogue of wise men from amongst recent and current MPs and their circles. It shouldn’t take long – unless it’s handed to pencil-pushers.

Ancient Rome had several types of clown, including a stock fool called Stupidus. He used scandals of the day for his material and presumably remains the inspiration for debates in the House. There were yet others known as Moriones, whilst the mentally retarded were known as Stulti and Fatui. It was as common then as now for a Great House to keep freaks and fools, who on the whole were treated kindly, presumably with per diems. During the Festival of Saturnalia, which marked the shortest day and the rebirth of life, a lowly slave would be chosen to take the place of the master of the household. Somehow sounds familiar.

The latest freak is a dappy blue coq but it’s hard to ascertain whether it’s come from The Valley or White Mountain. Wild animals, on the other hand, were added to circuses from about the same time as French settlers arrived here. That may or may not be co-incidental. They have now been largely banned in so-called civilised parts of the world and Mauritius followed in 2014 by banning the lion. Nonetheless it’s nice you still occasionally allow a large bulldog to remain in the Circus and provide entertainment, as well as several sheep.