The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-07-13
MEXICAN FOOTBALL.
"T1achtIi' ms Played In Mexico Before the
Spanish Conquest,


"TlaohtIi" ms Played In Mexico Before the
Spanish Conquest.
It may be q satisfaction to the lovers
of football to know that it has better
historical right to be called sour Ma
tional game" than has baseball. The
ancient Mexicans (native Americnn)
had n game OF ball resembling modern
football, and we are told that 1t was
their favorite game ut the time OF the
Spanish conquest. They used a large.
solid rubber ball, played in parties
with equal numbers on each side, and
struck the ball with any part OF the
body, but in most skillfnl playing with
the hip. Each party tried to drive the
other to the wall. and it is not difficult
to imagine squirming heaps of Indian
legs and arms. such as may be seen in
modern " scrimmage for the ball"
They had large buildings especially
for the game, which are referred to by
the ancient chroniclers as tennis
courts" although the resemblance OF
the game to tennis is not very marked.
Herrera gives a description of this
game as seen by the Spaniards in the
City of Mexico before the destruction
of the "halls of Montezuma," Of which
the following is translation, taken
from stephens "Travels in Yucatan:"
"The King took much delight in see
ing sport at ball, which the Spaniards
have since prohibited because of the
mischief that often happened at it,
and was called by them tlachtli, being
like our tennis. The ball was made of
the gum of tree which grows in hot
countries, which, having holes made in
it, distills great white drops that soon
harden, and, being worked and nodded
together, turn as black as pitch. The
balls made thereof, though hard and
heavy to the hand, did bound and fly
as well as our footballs, there being no
chacos but vy'd to drive the adverse
party that is to hit to the wall, the
others were to make good or strike it
over. They struck it with any part OF
their body, as it happened, or as they
could most conveniently, and some
other part than the hip, which was
looked upon amongst them as the
greatest deXterity; and to this effect,
that the ball might rebound the better,
they fastened piece of stiff leather on
their hips. They might strike it every
time it rebouuded, which it would do
several times. one after another, in so
much that it looked as if it had been
alive. Thev played in parties, so many
on IA side, for load of mantles,
or what the gamesters could afford,
at so many scores. They also
played for gold and feather-work,
and sometimes played themselves
away, as has been said before. The !
place where they played was q ground |
room, long, nerrow, and high, but
wider above than below, and higher
on the sides than at the ends. and they |
kept it very well plastered and smooth,
both the walls and the floor. On the |
outside walls they fixed certain stones,
like those of u mill, with hole quite |
through the middle, just as big as the |
ball, and he that could strike it through |
there won the game; and in token OF it |
being an extraordinary success, which |
rarely happened, he had right to the
cloaks of all the lockers on, by ancient |
custom and law among gamesters; and |
it was very pleasant to see, that as soon
as ever the ball was in the hole the
standers-by took to their heels, run
ming away with all their might to save
their cloaks, laughing and romping,
others securing after them to secure
their cloahs for the winner"
AS to the fate of this ancient game
there is the old story. 1t was prohib-
tied by the Spaniards "because of the
mischief that often happened at it,
because, in truth, the people were at
tached to it, and it was the policy of
the Spaniards to wean them from all
their old customs; yet the policy that
bull-fghting for tlachtli
may well be questioned.-N. Y. Even
ing Post.