Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-02-21
4 FEMALE FOOT KACE.
One Hundred and Niue Niles in Ehir-
toGn EEOurs.

Chihuahua (Mexico) Correspondence Of the
New York belnid.
Among the TarahUmares foot-racing
is a favOrite diversion, and even the
women compete in the lists At times a
great rival springs up between the adj
joining towns Of some districts as to the
relative merits of the contestants. WHul
in a month a rivalry of this kind be-
tween the villages Of Bacopia and SesO-
guiche gave rise to the most famous foot
rage on record. -Four of the fastest
wolNen from each town were selected,
auFi accompanied to an interme-
diate point between the towns,
where there was All obl0ng noun
tain three Mexican leagues around
il by measurement Cf the road /;
around this 10 WAS stipulated that the
race was 10 take place, the prize to be
conceded 10 those who made the quick
est time iu running round the mountain
fourteen times-a distance, al the very
least, .of loo English miles. At fixed
points within the circumference of the
unEaiD guards were stationed, who
were to see that the race was conducted
with fairness. The whole population of
the surrounding country had assent bled,
with whatever they could collect of
value, that they might have an oppor-
tunity Of betting something upon the re-
suit which was to bring shame or honor
to the rival villages. They were also
sufficiently civilized 10 have a large
quantity OF the Intoxicating drink-the
tezuiA&.
AS the eight athletic creatures took
their places at the starting point the ex-
element ran high they were, like the
old Roman athletes, stripped for the
contest, the only garment worn being a
short pettlcGat, which reached within
about six inches of the knee. Our in
formant, who stopped his travels for n
day to witness this novel race, was
struck with the magnificent develop
meut of muscle displayed by a swarthy
looking belle, whose petticOat was little
shorter than tGe rest, and he forthwith
bet his Pile on Ses0guiche. There were
other finely-developed creatures in the
list but none whose bright eyes, clean
limbs, hard-lOOaBg flesh and apparent
gutta>percha elasticity Of motion drew
so vividly upon his imagination, and so
powerfully upon his purse.
The whole bevy were or at the word
90, amid the widest excitement and
the netting commenced. The time was
six O'Clock and thirty-ive minutes in the
morning. The first, second, third, fourth
and even the fifth turn were completed
without any great advantage upon either
side; but during the next five turns it
was evident that, with the exception of
the fair belle above mentioned, SesO-
guiohe was losing ground. She, how
ever, kept breast and breast with two
wiry creatures from Baconia. At the
twelfth turn Of the mountain all bat the
three here mentioned dropped from the
track. The multitude was now pretty
well soaked with tszunia, and the betting
ran to tie widest extremes; everyone
who had anything of VIZ gSsstaked it on
the race-hoes, plows and other agricul-
tural implements, horses, cattle, sheep,
pigs, goats, eats, dags, and whatever else
there was of'value changed hands. The
men bet their clothes, while the women
pitched in and bet their pettieOats. All
was a wild uproGr, and the Derby sweep
stakes were nowhere.
The thirteenth turn was made; but it
was evident that the Sesoguiche belle vas
getting cut of wind, and after all had noi
20 much bottom as the wiry contestants
from Baconia. But she was not far
behind, and although Baconia took the
prize it was not matter for much
boasting.
The two women from the latter town
were received with the loudest shouts OF
Joy by their townspeOple. They had fin
ished the race at o'clock ia the even
ing, making the whole distance, JOG
miles, IA thirteen hours and twenty-five
minutes by the watch of our Informant
One of the two Baconia women who won
I the race had given birth 10 child ten
| days before, and prepared herself for TIN
contest by bandaging her breasts. The
| only stops made during the time by tht
contestants for the prizes were either tC
/ take a little water or eat frugally OF hin.
Ola simple Cruel made of parehed corn
ground and sweetened with sugar. By
the time the race was concluded nearly
every Indian on the ground was drunk