The morning call., 1892-12-25

Missed!
anism do away with park hacking as
forced necessity to the multitude Of horse
men.
In Iudia and the Orientthe wickednes SIS Of
the horses and ponies affords as much inter-
est as is required to make an ordinary ride
attractive; apart from which polo. pig
sticking. steeplechasing. paper hunts and
fat racing are almost daily atoms
within the reach OF almost all white men.
1t is to be readily understood that the
average youth of spirit and mettle will dis
dain the dudish trot and canter through the
park on a well-bred but sheepish gentle
tempered horse.
Some type of recreation apart from mere
saddle-jogging Is necessary for our man
hood.
Fox or drag hunting and paper-chases are
out OF The question around San Francisco.
SteeDlechasing is geographically an I'M
possible pastime, and, on artificial courses,
al expensive one. Polo requires the forma-
tion of large club of men willing to risk
dangerous though glorious sport before 1t
can be touched as game orth playing.
Pig-sticking and such open-air sport comes
under the same heads Of difficulty as drag
or fox hunting.
Tent pegging, however, is sport which
can be INDUCED in alone, and ncurs no ex-
peBse TO h0rseman bey0n stout spear,
hammer aud a bundle or plckets. Half-a-
dozen young eQuestrians coDgregatlng to-
gether can not only afford themselves
pretty and exciting spectacle as well as
royal and invigorating sport buta "tent-peg
club" could rest assured that 1t would draw
the largest crowd of fascinated spectators
of both sexes at every exhAbltion given.
while the love of manly sport topped with
picturesque display burns in the human
breast.
trust that have said enough to excite
the attention of many enthusiasts In this
city who are bemoaning the lack OF en-
"a NJ
equestTianism. IL any OF them wish for
detailed information how TO set about start
ing such club and how TO proceed with Its
amusement when started shall be happy
70 give them any practical hints required.
The primary organization OF one club
would lead to the establishment OF multi
tude of such all over the State, so that grand
annual competitions between the various
local champions would draw multltuoes Oh
brave men and fair women To witness
gallant sport where no harm can accrue to
anything but the rider-and then only when
he chooses to dare the danger OF his OWN
accord.
viii now give an illustration of the sport
as ] last saw it carried on In Perak, on the
Malay Peninsula:
Attached to the fine regiment of the Perak
Sikhs is q small troop OF Sikh iancers. all of
them choice troopers picked from the crack
native cavalry regiments OF India. Twice
week, ar least, the lancers ride down 20 the
great racecourse, mile beyond the limits
of the city Of Thaiping. to practice tent-peg-
ging. The occasion is always awaited OF oy
number Of the '1orsey" young CIVILIAN
officers to try their pluck and skill, and
numbers of residents and visitors regularly
crowd the course to witness the spectacle. j..
On the occasion | speak Of, stalwart
Sikh, with an armful of pegs" took up MS
station with heavy mallet In the center oil
the course.
The .'pegs" were one-inch boards, six
inches wide and two feet long, one END De-
ing roughly trimmed to point where nam
mered into the hard ground.
A Gathering OF hocfs on the macadamized
roadway outside the racecourse announced
the approach of cavalry, and all eyes turned
10 admire the handsome troop OF stern
faced, warlike heroes who trolted DTlsKiy
iuto the fenced Enclosure.
Mounted upon high bred, heavy chargers
OF fiery spirit and trained powers OF enour-
suce; gsyiy attired in handsome dark blue
uniforms, relieved with trimmings In scarlet
and gold, sat body oil men sucn as oeii9ht
soldiers eye.
Their well-cut. classic profles and flash
ing black eyes were surmounted by heavy
folded blue aud gold turbans, which added
extremely TO tile artistic nature OF TIE turn
cut Sitting at attention under inspection
every man held upright stout and springy
bamboo lance about twelve feet long, tipped
with heavy steel point, from beneath
which ffuttered the red and white penpants
OF the troop. The saddles and accouter-
airy.
In lien of iack-boots every troopers legs
were swathed In the yellow-cloth Dandage
leggiDgs peculiar TO their race ana ltaiian
brigands. 1t would have been difficult TO
find fault with them in any point, ana the
formal inspection by the commanding Eli,
ropean officer was rapidly completed ana
the troop broken off for begging practice"
Then ensued a general dismount.ag and
tightening OF girths and examination of
buckles brides and har.,css fnr s.teut.nep-
ging," which. az sne soldiers play it. is DO
en- game. -
The dismounted Sikh In the middle OF the
courses. at signal from the commanding
officer, drove In the first peg 10 depth OF
twelve inches in the ground, broadways on
20 the charging-course. 1t would have
taken strong man some time to rock ana
lever II out of the ground. To remove II
with straight pull would have been I'M
possible and it stood rigid under heavy
Side blow with which tested i.
Taking up my position 40 favored spec