Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-31
TO AMUSE THE RAJAH.
Curious and Revolving Pastimes.
Brutal Form in Which Pugilism Exists
Among the HindOOS-How a Clever
Young Man With a Staff Con-
quered Three Opponents.

Colonel L. 7. Pearl, of the Sixty-eighth
Light Infantry, who has been stationed at
Mysore, British India, for the last FIVE
years, gives the following interesting ac-
count of how a boxing tournament is car
ried on in India:
1t is almost needless to state that
our life at Mysore proved very dull | and
my fellow officer were casting about for
some relief from this interminable mono
tony, having tired of football, cricket and
other old-country sports, when we were
agreeably surprised one morning by re-
ceiving polite invitation from the rajah
of the district to attend an athletic exhibit
ton he proposed giving the next day.
At his highness' palace we were received
in royal manner. After partaking of
liberal repast we were conducted by him
to large gallery overlooking the arena
set apart for the exhibition. After seeing
us carefully bestowed he ordered the games
to proceed.
The professional Indian boxers are
known as jetties, a name derived from the
peculiar continuance worn by them upon
the right hand. This consists of kind of
cestus made of buffalo horn, with the four
sharp knobs upon it resembling exagger-
ated knuckles. Near the little finger is
fifth projection of greater prominence and
keenness than the others. 1t is worn up
on the right hand, between the lower joints
and the main knuckles, the fingers being
passed through narrow opening below
the raised points, of sufficient size to re-
ceive them when the fist is doubled.
If it were placed directly over the knuck-
les it very evident that a blow direct
with the full force of an athletic arm would
in all probability, crush the skull of the I'M
fortunate at whom it is aimed. Placed
in the manner described the wearer is
obliged to be very chary in the deliverance
of full-arm blow, as the conclusion would
be very likely to cause dislocation of the
hand. Instead, therefore, of hitting in the
usual style in vogue among English and
American pugilists, the blows are delivered
perpendicularly, and as the knobs are sure
to make a deep cut and lay the flesh open
to the bone, there is never any question as
to who is entitled to the claim of first blood.
In few minutes two of these men step
ed into the arena. They were magnificent
specimens of manhood, neither very stout
nor very muscular, but with well-knit,
splendidly proportional frames. Added to
this was a natural grace and gentlemanly
department.
Bowling low to the rajah, they took their
places in the center of the ring and put
themselves In position for the combat
Approaching each other, they held up and
crossed their left arm, then, quickly STEP
ped back, they made various motions with
their hands, or, as we would express it,
SPARED for an opening.
They shifted their positions with great
activity, watching like hawks for an OPP
portunity to deliver blow, never once al
any manner. Several passes, made with
li!ghtning-like rapidity, were neatly par
ried, and we were greatly puzzled to know
which displayed the greater amount of
science, so equally were they matched.
offensive, pressed his antagonist backward
a stunning blow on the cheek which laid
it open to the bone. Suddenly the wounded
athlete ducked, and, grasping his antago-
The latter dealt him another blow, this
time upon the crown of the head, but,
nothing daunted he threw his man, and as
face, which tumbled him over in heap.
Like a cat he recovered his feet and closed
with the other, then followed shower of
blows which so disfgured the pugiIists that
their faces were hardly recognizable
Not relishing such glory spectacle we
requested the rajah to compel them to
desist. This he did reluctantly, seemingly
surprised to think that we should so soon
fo,, N, nj, ba JO,,b+Iocc
considered the very acme of mani sport.
Calling the boxers to him, he tossed
them a handful Of coins, accompanying
the gift with a few words of commenda-
ton for their pluck and skill. They bowed
low and murmured words of thanks to the
effect that for such recompense they would
willingly fight every day of their lives.
A young Hindoo now appeared, armed
with a weapon somewhat resembling a
quarter staff, about six feet long and two
inches thick, upon each end of which was
wooden ball enclosed in quilted cotton
bag. Immediately following him came
three others of his race bearing slaves
three feet in length and about an inch and
half in thickness. At signal from our
host the play began.
The three quickly attacked the new
WHO u6louCcu III1SoIl dOLl bIlt
blows they aimed at him with surprising
agility and adroitness. So rapid were his
movements that his front was always pre-
sented to each of his antagonists, and so
dexteriously did he handle his weapon,
which was held at the center of the shaft,
that every attempt to strike him proved
futile. For several moments he acted on
the defensive, and thus managed to tire
out the attacking parties.
Observing this, he made a sudden spring
at one of them. and, striking him full in
the face with the end of his staff, felled
him like an OK. With quick backward
movement he dashed the other end of the
staff at the head of one of his enemies who
had come up behind, and gave him blow
on the temple that leveled him to the
earth as though struck with cannon ball
The remaining one, imagining he had
now an excellent chance to disable the
wielder of the staff, made wicked
lunge at him, which landed in his ribs
and almost took away his breath.
Recovering in an instant, the latter
bounded toward his antagonist, all the
while swinging his weapon with tremend
Gus velocity. The willy fellow succeeded
in evading it by ducking and lodging
but he miscalculated his chances. Rails
ing his head, he received the covered enc
of the staff on his forehead, and, stagger
ing about for a second or two, fell prone
on his back, completely beaten.
The victor received the usual nod of APP
probation from the rajah, and smiling