Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-22
Animal Fighting in China.

time.
Animal Fighting In China.
Ne'o York clipper.
Though the denizens of the Celestial
Empire prohibit all entertainments in
which human beings may be injured, they
lave no objection to fights in which the
PARTICIPANTS are animals. Religious per-
sons. especially strict Buddhists who be-
lieVe in the transmigratIOn of souls, are
strong opponents Of these sports, but the
men in China patrOnize them extensively.
In every great city such as Canton, Foo
Chow, Pekin and Keeling there are hum
dreds Of sporting men who make their
livelihood from these events.
Fighting turtles are Of two classes,
either the mud or swapping turtle. They
are caught aud regularly trained. They
Are fed with raw meat and drug that
cor espOuds vita the loco or Texas. In
six months the turtle becomes savage and
Igly, and viii fight and bite on the small.
est pTOvocatiOn. To increase its bellicOse
powers, the jaws and teeth are carefully
lied and sand-papered until It's mouth is
made almost into series Of raZOrs and
needles. Each day its trainer leases it
with cotton and wool until il is ex-
cited into a perfect frenzy and bites the
training instruments into small frag-
ments. Six months training puts il ia
good Il citing condition. Young and and
old turtles are Valueless. & middle
aged turtle-that is. one of or years
is the best. When the fight comes off the
turtles have been starved and leased for
a week, aud are as ugly as may be i'm
agined. Each is handled by lis own train
er, and is teased and tickled until it is in
a violent rage. Ii is then placed IN a
small ring with iIs antagonist, and the
fun begins. The fight is always to the
death. A throat hold means victory.
Generally the legs are the msin points Of
attack, and often both reptiles will lose a
fOreieg in the first round. Their vitality
is so great that after a head is almost bit
ten of il viii turn and seize "A leg or tail
and bite as Ii nothing had happened.
These fights last from one TO ten hours.
ana are always largely attended by men
aud boys.
In the western provinces wildcats are
quite common. They resemble the Ameri-
can wildcat, but are larger and fiercer.
They are usually caught when young.
and are brought up 50 as to develop their
lighting qualities. A good commentary
upon their training is their market value.
When kittens they bring about one tael
Isl 40); ct one year they are worth four
Iaels, and at two ana a half they COM
mand from ten 10 twenty. They are
matched against their own species, and
general type as our bull terriers. The
light is bloody and horrible.
In some cities the contest is made more
exciting and terrible by putting metal
studded collars around the necks or the
two cats. The fight Is then resolved into
a matter Of endurance, and frequently
lasts five hours. When wildcat Is
matched against bull terrier, the result
is very uncertain. If the dog catches the
Fho ~ q
wins. But if the cat gets on his back,
which is often the case, the dog has
hopeless fight. After repeated attempts
TO dislOdge ais foe, he succumbs from loss
of blood and absolute fatigue.
Cock lighting in China resembles that
in the United States. The rules are about
the same, but the gals are often more
deadly. Instead Of representing the nor
NAL shape OF the birds weapon, they are
made with two or three points and with
edges like razOrs. Under such circum-
stances a fight is frequently determined
in a few minutes. In Pe-Che-Li the beak
is sometimes shOd with pointed steel, and
no gaffs are employed. Unless the eye or
throat is struck the fight is long and mo-
nOtOnOus, the birds being covered with
blood in two minutes. They are also
stimulated TO increased effort by being
fed with grain soaked in nO-ma-dai-O,
liquor corresponding to whisky. Fight
ing or game cocks are very valuable in
China. and have been bred for genera
tions- Those of FOO-ChOw are the most
valuable. and possess few qualities save
those of great beauty and reckless cOur-
age. They range in price from nall taeI
70 cents J to 80 taels $50, according 10
the strain from which they come. The
best have pedigrees longer than those OF
our great horses and dogs.
Male rats are very puSnaclous, espe-
cially in the spring. They are Ieq llght-
liz during the winter months. ana Win
raw meats and fishbOnes. In March and
April they are in condition, and, with a
little excitement, become very ieroclous'
They are usually fought IN a small ring,
not more than three feet IN diameter
These fights are sharp and short, seldom
lasting more than twenty minutes. Each
tries TO strike the other on the throat, just
bahind the ear. and when he succeeds
death follows.
These rats are also fought against dogs
and cats, Generally these combats are un-
interesting, the rat having an lnsuncLiFe
fear of both these animals. Az times,
however. when we'll trained, they show
fight, ana often have been known 70 MI! XII
the luckless cat or dog put into the pit
against them. .,
OuaiIs. strange TO say, are also good
fighters. In the spring and fall they de-
velop pugilistic instinct altogether IN
tarestins. They fight with beak, wing
and CLAW. The Chinese sport snarpehs
the beak TO a needle point, trims the wing
and wing feathers until they are series 81, OIL
naedIes. and works the claws into similar
sbsrnness- In these fights the hen quail
is never used. They are goOd-natured and
affectionate. The cock, however, IS very very
beII,coso and strikes out until he ls deau
~. jfsabied- He differs from the game
cacL in his style of work. Two cocks
stand up, peck dodge and gst and i,b linen f6a
..i,S-',od yrin0s A successful blow means
temporary binding and a consequent
victory for the happy striker someUm sbe
especially when women are present. INC
80 90 claws are blunted, and blood
less fight results. In such a case en1 fo.,
ance and pluck are the determining rae rae,
tors, and long and very Iunn! S'i ,bese
- the consequence. Frequently these
s..oft-glove'5 lights, if the term may DC al,
lowed will keep on for hours, ana the Two :.
birds Will drop down at the END from Sheei