The New York herald., 1876-09-21
POLO.
from London Society.l

We think there few Of readers who are un.
aware Of the game called polo. II is true that, an
English game, 1t is recent innovation; and for this
reason We propose saying few words concerning II.
We the words 'recent innovation" auvscdly; for
tho game of .'polo'' imported from India This
may astonisb some, but 1t is TACT nevertheless Tho
game its origin to the 'Eun,poorecs hill tribe
inhabing Munipoor which is tributary State on tho
northeast frontier Of Bengal They are hardy and
manly race, not unlike tho GoorEas in personal ap
pcarance need hardly bo said they are good RIDERS
although not elegant in the saddle Their seat s how.
ever, somewhat graceful and they have good knack
OF what is termed sticking on" They are taught to
ride when quito young, and may be said almost live
in the saddle when manhood is attained For upward
OF a hundred years the game called by ''polo has
been the national pastimc. Munipoor is famous for
its breed OF ponies which excel tho Burmah
pony in strength and feetncss Tho Rajah
OF Mrnipoor lcves a tribute OF twenty.dvc rupees
(E2 los OF coinage) each pony that leaves his
State, and stations are permitted TO pass tho
frontier II is rice with Arabs In their case no
mares are allowed to pass into India. BY prohibiting
the exit OF stations the Raah of Munipoor not only In
his annual income but necefstaes the breed
ing OF the PONIES within his own territory. These
ponies ara small. but very powerful; they vary ircm
eleven TO thirteen hands IN height the average being
about twelve hands high at tho They very
fleet, and some OF them can carry men OF from four
by us polo Is by them known by tho name OF Knntai
which Munipooree word, signying "pamen or
amusemcnt ana that is their game par erceAence
they always call u by that name, meaning, pre-
sumo, the game OF all others By the Aneio-Inans It
is always called "hockey." and ty somc 'hockey
on horseback" In contradistincton 10 our Eng
,sh aamo OF hockey foot; but there
is really no necessity iOr such distnc-
tiop as hockey on loot is game never pnyc In india
Tor obvious reasons We may as well state that
quite ignorant as to the origin oil the ''polo.n
We must admit to being somewhat curious why the
Hail. ntS+A A@t
have any objection TO IL on tho contrary, We think
tho name a very good one.
.Hockcy on horseback" Is too long q namc and
''poio" twhatcver II may mcan) answers the purpose
ms well AS any other name-pcrhaps more So there
is often good deal OF failing ana rolling connected
with tho game which gives It somewhat "roly poly
character
The Munpoorccs play the game to perfection They
very rarely tho ball, strike II from all four
SIDES H. from tho front OF the pony's head from be-
hind his TAIL and from the two sdcs); and when fol-
lowing the bail straight they invariably drop Tho
rcns ana strike with both hands. The ball s
still for an instsnt, but Is struck backwards
and forwards by the contepding sides, football
is at Eton OF Winchester They have great pluck and
charge unhestatingiy whenever opportunity oilers
The Europeans in Eastern Bengal (where hockey is
mostly play ea rarely ever beat the Munpoorccs
match In syicnar and Cachar tho seven best Eu-
ropcan players used TO play like number OF Num-
poorces, but they usually lost.
The usual number OF players In q match IS seven
sidc and the best OF seven or nine games constitutes
the winner. Their ground Is not large. being usually
100 yards long by so yards in breadth. Whenever the
bali struck outside the boundary line IT IS thrown
into the ground by outsider, thow It as lar
In as he likes, that he throws II lime tho
spot whore IL went out
The game is commenced by tho ball being placed In
the centre OF the ground, and TWO players, from
each side stand close up to it, facing Que another the
other players ranging themselves behind thor
spectve sides of the grounds. so 10 defend their
goals In Eng land, wo believe tho ball placed IN
the centre OF ground the two sides rush at IL
simultaneously. In all other respects beevc the
English rules much tho those OF Mnnpoor
Two OF the players always remain behind TO defend the
goal. while the other i've do all tho ground work. In
fact the rulc3 are almost tho same in tho games OF
hockey foot or football The sticks used by tho
different from those used IN England They CONSIST Of
long and ,oeraby thick cane (hunDoorce, bet), in
serted into the middle OF wooden roller, about foot
long and al an angle Of about thrtynvc forty deg
greoJ The ball is made out OF the root Of bamboo
tree, and is about hall the again OF English
quite light, and will stand immense amount Of
knocking about We would strongly recommend
these balls and stick to the EngiIsn polo players
They could easily be obtained tand at small cost
IRON India by applying either TO tho secretary OF tho
Calcutta Hockey Club or to tho Commissioner OF
Cachar We feel sure that both those gentlemen would
gladly obtain thcm Tor any English club The sticks
in Cachar cost rupee each, aud tho balls arc much
about the same, perhaps little moro. The NUM-.
poorce Is unlike that OF Nalaccn and Is very
strong. The feet OF course have 10 be constantly
ncwcd, as they sometimes split wncn very hard ht
Is made. The two chief by-rucs observed by the Mu-
nipources are, () 10 never raise tho above the
elbow striking at the ball in melee, and (2) to
play into each Others hands, and not to strike the
ball rasnly, from a selfish motive OF getting good hit
on another player who has open space before
HIM snc away with IT, We should like TO
these Two rules little moro observed by the English
POLO players.