The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-25
DESCRIBES MUD.
WATER BATTLE
British Officer Tells of Odd Con.
test In the Himalayas

WASHINGTON, II, e. April es-One Of
the oldest annual contests in tho
world, "A mud and water fight. during
which the women az rar-om and little
known Bhutan. in the heart Of the
Himalayas. seek To prevent the men
from taking possession OF an inundat-
ed rice field is described by John
Claude White, late political officer m
charge of Sikhim Bhuian. and parts
Of Tibet within the sphere of British
influence, i'm communication to the
National Geographic Society. AT Wash
ington, ID. 4. The event is known as
the spring ceremony of blessing the
rice fields. Victory for the women
portends. during the coming season.
fertility Of the soil and increase among
the hocks and herds.
Early one morning the sound of
sweet-toned gong warned MS that the
spring ceremony of blessing the rice
fields was about To BEGIN" writes Mr..
White. "A long and picturesque pro-
cession of men and women led by the
donyer came vending down the hill |
side until the first rice field. into
which water had been running all the |
day before. was reached. The field be-
low was still dry, and turning i'm there
they all sat down and had some re-
freshments. suddenly the men sprang
MP, throwing off their outer garments:
this was the signal for the women TO
rush To the inundated field and to
commence throwing clods of earth and
'plashes Of muddy water on the men
below as they tried To climb up. Then |
followed wild and mad, though al
ways good-natured. struggle between
he men and the women in the water,
he men doing their utmost to take
possession of the watery field. the
women equally determined To keep
hem out
The Women Victorious.
The donyer the leader of the men,
uttered severely. though the courtes-
es of war We're strictly observed, and :
one Of the ASSISTANTS fell his op-
onents helped him up and gave him
reathing space To recover before am
Their onslaught was made. But gradu-
lily the women drove the men slowly
own the whole length of the field un-
] the last stand was made by very
tout and powerful official. who.
Ilnging to an overhanging rock. with '
is back 10 his foes. used his feet tn "
cup up such quantities of mud and -
alter that no one was able To come -
'ar him. However. all the other men -
wing been driven off, he and the y
Inyer were allowed at last To crawl
, ON the path and the combat for
e year was over. The victory of the =
omen was looked upon as very
opitious ending; So they dispersed to
cir various homes rejoicing"
Mr. White writes of being entertain :"
by one of the officials, as follows: 80
We here saw what capable house ~
YES the Bhutan ladies are. Every !,
ing was done very systematicalV. ~
the morning the provisions for the
v were given out-no easy task. -
tn some hundreds of retainers To
'd-and the stOre-rooms relocked,
lers issued, ana tasks appointed il ~
inning, weaving, etc. To he carried 80
10y the large household of women. '"
d it was interesting To see the de-
ence in which these DANES are :,
Id. We were shown all the indus
rs of weaving i'm cotton. wool and
(, the process Of casting metals. ~
ely bells and images, the making
swords and gold-and silver-smith's
rk' Many pieces turned out by the
ter were Of exquisite design and
sh. II was all most interesting and "
tructiye." ie'
ge