The Shasta courier., 1867-04-27
Extraordinary Female Foot Race.

Among the Iarahumares the foot racing is
tavorite diversion, and even the women
compete in the lists. AT times great rival
ry springs up between the adjoining towns
OF some districts as to the relative merits of
the contestants. Within month a rivalry
of this kind between the two villages of
Baconia and Sesoguiche gave rise to the
most famous foot race on record. Four of
the fastest women from each town were Sc
lected, and accompanied to an intermediate
point between the towns, where there was
an oblong mountain three Mexican leagues
around it by measurement of the road ;
around this it was stipulated that the race
was to take place, the prize to be conceded
to those who made the quickest time in run
ming round the mountain fourteen times-a
distance, at the least, of one hundred Eng
lish miles. AT fixed points within the cir
cumference of the mountain, guards were
stationed, who were to see that the race was
contested with fairness. The whole popula-
ton Of the surrounding country had assem-
bled, with whatever they could collect of
value, that they might have the opportunity
of betting something upon the result which
was to bring shame or honor to the rival
villages. They were also sufficiently civil
lied to have a large quantity of the intoxi-
eating drink-the Tezuina.
As the eight athletic creatures took their
places at the starting point the excitement
ran high they were, like the old Roman
athletes, stripped for the contest, the only
garment worn being short petticoat, which
reached within six inches of the knee. Our
inform ant, who stopped his travels for day
to witness this novel race, was struck with
the magnificent development of muscles dis.
II -oI ~ Ill
petticoat was little shorter than the rest.
and he forthwith bet his pile on Sesoguiche
There were other finely developed creatures
in the list, but none whose clean limbs,
hard looking flesh and apparent gutta
percha elasticity of motion drew so vividly
upon his imagination, and so powerfully upon
his purse.
The whole bevy were off at the word go,
amid the widest excitement, and the bettin 9
commenced. The time was O'Clock and
thlrty-f minutes in the morning. The
first, second, the fourth, and even the
fifth turn was 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.
Sesoguiche was losing ground. She, how
ever, kept breast and breast with two wiry
creatures from Baconia. AT the twelfth turn
of the mountain all but the three here men
toned dropped from the track. The multi
tude was now pretty well soaked with
Tezuiua, and the betting ran to the widest
extremes every one who had anything OF
value staked it on the race-hoes, plows, and
other agricultural implements, horses, cattle,
| sheep, pigs, goats, cats, dogs, and whatever
else there was of value, changed hands
| The men bet their clothes, while the women
staked their petticoats. All was n wild
uproar, and the Derby sweepstakes were
nowhere.
| The thirteenth turn was made but it was
| evident that the Sesoguiche belle was getting
out of wind, and after all had not so much
bottom as the wiry contestants from Baconia
But she was not far behind, ard 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 ioy by
their townspeople. They had finished the
race at eight O'Clock in the evening, making
the whole distance, one hundred miles, in
thirteen hours and twenty five minutes by
| the watch of our informant. One Of the two
| Baconia women who won the race had given
birth to a child ten days before, and pre-
pared herself for the contest by bandagine
her breast. The only stops made during tht
time by the contestants for the prizes were
either to take little water or eat frugally O
| pinoli-a simple cruel made of parched corn
ground and sweetened with sugar. By the
time the race was concluded nearly every
! Indian on the ground was drunk.