The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-11
Indian Military Sports.


The sports of the native Indian cavalry,
commonly called Neci Basi, are much en-
couraged by the authorities, as to excel in
them requires steady nerve and good
riding. believe il Is the custom in most
regiments to devote one morning a week
TO these essentially military games. They
are most popular with the men, it IL easy
to see, for besides tho hundred OF 50 who
generally turn out to compete, the greater
part OF TIE regiment is present on foot as
spectators. The proceedings generally
commence with tentpegging pure and
simple. A short peg is driven into the
ground, while some two hundred yards
distant the competitors are drawn up in
line, each on his own horse, for the native
SONAR, like the vassal Of our own past
times, comes mounted and armed TO his
regiment While Of duty the native
soldier can dress as be pleases; so on occa-
sions like the present individual taste
breaks forth in snowy waistcoats or gor-
geous-colored turban. Each man carries
bamboo spear in his hand. At signal
given by the sooadi major, or native ad-
jutant, the first man, his spear held across
his body, starts at canter, his wiry little
country-bred knows as well as he does
what is in his hand, and as the speed
quickens to a gallop, the pace is regular
and measured, enabling his rider to sit as
steady as a rock. When about fifty yards
from the object the ,so,Oar turns his spear
point downward, bends well over the sad
die till his hand is below the girth, and
then, when you almost think be has gone
past, an imperceptible turn Of the wrist
and-swish-the spear is brandished round
his head, with the peg transfxed on its
point. Another is quickly driven into the
ground and the next man comes up he,
too, hits the peg, but perhaps fails to
carry it away to the required distance, for
it drops from his spear point as he is in
the act Of whirling il round dis head.
This does not count, and he retires dis
comftted. The third misses entirely; the
fourth strikes, but does not remove the
peg from tho ground, while after them, in
quick succession, come two or three who
carry it off triumphantly With varying
fortune the whole squad goes by, and il IS
interesting to note the style Of each horse
man as he passes--some sitting rigid till
within few yards Of the mark, others
bending oveS and taking aim while still at
a small distance; soms silent, others shout.
ing and gesticula .::ag, whilc one no sooner
has his steSd in motion than he gives vent
to certain treBsoto sound, kept up like
the rattle Of steam engine, till close upon
the peg, which, having skilIfully transfx.
ed, he at the same time throws his voice
up an octave or two, in triumph, sup
pose, as he gallops round and joins his COM
rades. Two or three men now bring up
their horses with neither saddle nor bride.
and with consummate skill, guiding them
by leg-pressure alone, carrying off the peg
triumphantly, amid well deserved cries
OF "iShabash !" from the spectators. The
next part of the programme is "lime-cut-
ting. Three lemons are put up on sticks
about twenty yards apart; and as the soioar
gallops past, tulwar in hand, he has sue.
cesslyely to cut them in two without touch
ing the sticks-a by no means easy feat.
Then three handkerchiefs are placed on
the ground, and horseman, riding bare
backed good looking bay, flies past in
very cloud of dust, and on his way stops,
picks up and throws over his shoulder
each handkerchief as he comes to Il.
And now we come to the most difficult
feat of all. A piece of wood little
larger than tent peg is driven Into the
ground, and notch having been made
In the top, rupee is therein placed
so as to be halfhidden from view. The
feat is to ride at this, lance in hand, and
to knock out the rupee without touching
the wood--a performance requiring rare
skill and dexterity; yet it is generally
accomplished successfully, once or twice,
by the best hands Of the regiment. Per
haps the proceedings may close with
something Of comic nature, one man
coming past hanging by his heels from tho
saddle, shouting and gestieulating; others
facing the horses tails, firing pistols at
supposed enemy, with more antics Of ike
nature, often ending in an iguominious
cropper, though the nimble tareem gener.
ally yssucceeds in landing on his feet
Chambers Journal.