, 1886-08-07
ANIMAL FIGHTS IN CASHMERE.


"a III
with the MaharsJah's Installation.
The animal fights formed part of the
festivities in connection with the install
lation of the maharajah of Cashmere.
Two huge water buffaloes, with ropes to
their feet and a dozen men at each rope,
were introduced to each other, the Grove
closing round them to within a few feet.
Neither animal required any urging, but
put his head down at once and butted.
The shock of the opposing skulls rang
like the sound of a Ratchet on wood
across the arena. Then both brutes laid
head to head and pushed and grunted
and paved and sweated for five minutes,
the crowd yelling maaly meanwhile.
The lighter weight was forced back into
the crowd, recovered himself, butted
again, turned sideways, and was again
forced back. After a few minutes more,
when each animal was settled down to
his work with w~hole-hearted earnestness,
the order was given to separate them,
and very reluctantly the gigantic mus
sucks were hauled in opposite directions.
Next came the fighting rams, spotted
and shaver beasts, with Roman noses
and rowdy visages, straining away from
their owners, and all apparently spelling
for a fight. Two or three couples were
let go together, ran back to gather way,
came on and met; ran back, charged
again, and repeated the performance till
the sound of their foolish colliding heads
was almost continuous. After the first
few minutes, when you begin to realize
that neither animal is likely to fall down
dead, ram fighting is monotonous. Some
times a ram runs back to his charge
valiantly enough, and midway in the on
set loses heart, turns tail to his antagon-
list, and fees to his master. The adver-
sary, being a beast of honor, immedi-
ately pulls up and trots back to his
master. One light-limbed doomba with
red spots seems to be the champion of
Jummu. His charge general upsets his
antagonist at once, and few of the rams
care to stand a second.
AS soon as all the rams had been dis
posed of, certain vicious shrieks and
squeals gave evidence that the horses
were being got ready, and the police set
about widening the ring. Presently a
bay galloway and a black pony danced
out, dragging their attendants after
them at the end of a long rope.
The instant they were let go they ran
open-mouthed at each other, turned tail
to tail. and kicked savagely for five min
utes, the black suffering the most. Then,
after the manner of horses all the world
over, they turned round and closed,
each striking with his fore feet, and
striving to fix his teeth in the others
breast. They squealed shrilly as they
boxed, and finally rose on end-a mag
nificent sight, locked in each others
arms. The boy, loosing his hold on the
blacks poll, made a snatch at the blacks
near foreleg, which was at once with
drawn.
Both horses then dropped to the
ground together, and kicked and bit at
close quarters till the bay fled with the
black after him through the crowd. The
saices at the end of the d~rag-ropes were
knocked over, scrambled up and caught
at the ropes again, while the two mad
dened brutes plunged and struggled
among the people. About half a dozen
people were knocked over and shaken, but
no one was hurt; and, after wild clamor
and much running hither and thither,
both bay and black were caught, blind
folded and led away to reappear no
more-Homeward Mail.