Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
COMBAT OF THE CHIEFS.

SOnDAI Op ChlEFS.
1t is arrant bombast, he is a very brag-
CART, yet such is the custom of his race and
it lashes his followers to the pitch of
fighting frenzy while the enemy feels the
sting Of his fiery tongue. The other chief
stands out before his rank and sends threats
and defiance back in tarn. He, too, has a
war name as dread as apy, and he has earned
it by deeds of valoE So they scold and
wrangle across the field until they can bear
it no longer. Each grasps his bow and
| sends arrows screaming through the air at
his opponent. The arrows shot all away
they case the long spears and rush together
with shout. Over and under, cut, slash
| and thwack the clubs crash through the air
in practiced strokes, deadly blows are
parried, guards are broken down, calloused
heels stamp the earth and stir up the dust
in cloud which wells the furious COM
batants.
The armies. keenly intent upon the issue,
see but an eddy in the dust cloud, or per-
haps the flash of leaning arm. They can
hardly restrain themselves as they stand in
order, each with his arrow fitted to the string
awaiting the order which shall set them free
to act From the whirl of dust comes the
shout ior which they have been waiting.
The dust begins to settle as the struggling
champions drop to the earth to clear the
ground TOR the other fighters. Tense bow
strings fill the air with their humming,
light shafts of cane fly between the ranks,
doing execution where they strike, then
with shout the armies begin to close and
hurl their spears as they draw nearer.
THEN THE LITTLE ARMIES MEET.
When the missiles have all been shot
across a clear field the PROSTATE chieltains
scramble to their feet all the better for the
resting space, each leads to the attack the
rapidly advancing line of his followers and
seeks out his former antagonist, or convinced
of his proves selects some other man with
whom to fight. Clubs whirl in air before
the advancing line; they clash, they meet,
the shock is sometimes so great that there is
no room for cudgel play and the men, locked
in a close embrace, grapple and wrestle, each
struggling to seize the others throst. Roll
ing upon the ground or standing face to lace,
they tug and toll until exhausted, they rest
and pant weary defiance each to each and
then begin once more the even encounter.
Such battles last tor hours, and are de-
cided only when hunger bids the weary
combatants desist. Each chic: closely scans
the field to count the humber OF his dead
and by that record learns the issue the
day. Whichever one has killed the most
hoarsely raises the shout o. victory, which
puts a stop to all lurther fighting The van
quished suddenly withdraw, tine victors
gather up the dead, their own for funeral
rites, the others for the food OF those who
yet live. Victorious or beaten, the company
returns to its fleet and embarks for home,
and the days fighting is at an end. But If
victory attend the fleet there is rejoicing on
the homeward trip. When they sight their
homes they shout ths glorious news, that
welcome may be ready Tor them; they drag
the captured bodies to the ever ready ovens;
they sit upon the green and solemnly tell
the story OF the day; they magnify the num-
Der Of the opposing force; they praise their
ability as warriors in order that their
own boastings may be the greater.
VALIANT LIARS, TOO.
Each takes his turn in telling the number
of the slain who fell beneath his club, and