The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-12-07
GAME OF ANTIQUITY.
Polo Was Played by the Rulers
of Asia In the Tenth
Century.

Just when and where the first game
of polo was played is not definitely
known, but it is well known that in
the early part of the tenth century
the game was played in parts of Asia,
principally in Persia, India and Japan.
In the latter country, where it was
undoubtedly played in the sixth cen
fury, there is tradition that the
game was known to the people 600
years before Christ, says the Rider
and Driver.
Many old eastern writings make
reference to the game under the Per-
sian name of chaugan.
Among the early patrons of the
game some of the more distinguished
were Harun-Alraschid, the amir ma
sud of Ghazni, the Emperor Akbar
and the Shah Abbas, the Persian mon
arch. The latter. great patron of
the game, evidently found it a great
relief from mental labor to gallon
about on wild little pony and en-
deavor to hit the chaugan ball harder
and oftener than any of his courtiers
The plains of Agra furnished a
great polo ground for the Emperor
Akbar, where three centuries ago he
might have been seen within quad
rangle formed by howdahed elephants
and squadrons of horsemen playing
chaugan with his courtiers on the
present site of Tai. The sticks they
played with were topped with gold
and silver, and when a stick broke the
pieces became the property of those
who picked them up. The emperor
must have been quite an enthusiast
upon the game, for it is recorded that
frequently on dark nights he went
out upon the plain and played for
hours, using blazing wooden balls
that seethed and spluttered as they
bounded over the ground.
Polo was probably first played in
Europe by the Greeks in the twelfth
century, for Byzantian historian
tells US how the Greek emperor, Com
menus, took ''cropper" while play
ing chaugan match.
In India chaugan was played for
ages in Munnipore and the valleys of
Thibet before it was taken up by the
English. 1t is probably from this
place that the game derived the name
of polo, for it is probably corrup-
ton of pull. the Thibetan name for
the game. In 1859 J. F. Sherer. a
lieutenant in the English army, hav-
ing become interested in the game
from seeing it played by the Munni-
pories, organized European polo
club in Cachar, and by playing exhi-
bition matches soon started the game
among the young officers and mer-
chants of his acquaintance. It was
largely through the efforts of Sherer
that polo became popular in Calcutta,
where in 1864 he was rendered great
dinner in recognition of his services
He has since been justly called "the
father of polo" The game has since
spread throughout all India, and is
played from the Himalayas to Ceylon
and the great tournaments held year
ly at Murat and Umballa. which are
attended by large and appreciative
throngs, are strong evidences of its
popularity. Nor is its popularity con
fined to India alone, for polo is played
| to-day in almost every civilized coun.
| try in the world.
The way in which the first game OF
polo came to be played in England
| is as follows: A number of young
| officers quartered at Aldershot were
sitting in tent after lunch when one
of their number, who had been read
| ing paper, suddenly interrupted
| them with: listen to this. boys,
| and then he read aloud an account OF
a game of polo played by the Munni
pories. "That must be a great game,
said one; 'let us try it." Suiting the
action to the word, he ran out and or
dered the horses to be brought, while
the others supplied themselves will
hockey sticks and billiard ball
With this crude outfit and upon big
horses was the first game of polk
| played in England. 1t was soon evi
dent that the game could not b'
played successfully upon tall horses
| and ponies were brought from Ire
land for polo purposes. Other regi
ments took up the game, until tourna
ments became quite common. LaTg'
| clubs were started at Lille Bridg,
| and Nottingham, and the latter place
| is still the favorite resort of polo play
| org in Fnpland