The Iola register., 1901-03-01

lack of knowledge of the arts of main
tanning equilibrium and overcoming
friction. They sit the saddle firmly,
however, only they lean far back, the
legs sticking to the front and out,
while the arm not engaged with the
rein rests on their lap. Many of
these ponies are well gated and many
riders ride gracefully. While these
things are before us American soldiers
are playing base ball upon the distant
plaza. Natives are kicking ball of
closely woven rattan; eight can play,
four on side, the object being to
prevent the ball from touching the
ground without the use of the hand
and it is wonderful the degree of ac-
curacy with which a native will Judge
a ball that seems to be coming down
behind bim-but let it come, that's
where he wants it-for he leans for
ward, kicks as though he were en-
deavoring to kick the back of his own
sacred head oT-but he don't: he
kicks the ball and the game goes
on.
Far mp The street to the left six men
ride six cariboo up to the string tied
across the street. | look down and
there isanother string stretched across.
the first in front of our balcony, and
men apparently very busy and talk
ing much, ,lare arranging for a race.
These six caribou are entered in a
race, but of course all are not to run,
Notwithstanding the fact that they are
all on the starting line. The reasons
why all are not to run are obvious to
all who have seen handled or heard of
a cariboo. They are apparently
cross between sea turtle, catfish
and a cow The hoof is like tortoise
shell. their skin like that of catfish
and their form like that of COW. a
large COW of coal black hue that can
stay under water-and loves it, too !
for many minutes. A caribou's idea
of heaven is hot sun, nothing to do. |
plenty of shade and muddy water a
mile deep in which to float. 1t takes |
longer for caribou to make up his |
mind as to just what to do than it took |
.he state of Kansas to tire of the Pop |
st party, and after having arrived |
Al conclusion it takes him longer to
To- it than it takes the Democrats to
'l'ct President. These are some of |
be reasons why all of the cariboo you !
see up yonder are not going to run. |
But the natives, who are onto every |
curve OF the carriboo's ponderous |
physique, have reckoned well and |
nave sufficient number out of which |
% secure two runners-no, that is the
wrong world mean creepers, for
when one witnesses cariboo race
)ne is impressed with the idea that the
dea the animal himself has of it is,
hat the first one over the finishing
inc is to be shot at sundown, for they
'ome ambling along, half rolling
creeping along, manifesting
willingness very few steps to with
iraw from the race altogether. But
hey can't, for they are mastered by
nan, at least they think they are for
he time being, and it takes too long
o change their mind about it once
hey have started, so they finish,
weak and apparently groggy, to be
'ewarded by having all the muddy
water they want in which to wallow
until time to go to the rice field to-
morrow.
While stationed at another post
'wned chicken, a nice plump bird
someone was so indelicate as to sug-
rest that the bird, if it could have
alked, could tell few things about
he operations by which it became my
why gossip about an in
locent chicken. 1t was mine and on
he 4th of July | was so indiscreet a
o wagerit against another bird on the
esult of a caribou race-that is, it
vas TO have been a race but the brute
hat cost me my fowl couldn't see il