Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/402

 394 LIC one is defeated till he is laid so flat on his back that both shoulder blades touch the earth. The sport is becoming more popular in Oudh generally for obvious reasons. Formerly every man carried arms, and skill in the use of sword, shield, spear, and matchlock was not only useful, but its dis- play was lawful, and rewarded with applause and more substantial gifts. Now the country is disarmed, and the use of arms in any crowded assem. bly is placed under almost prohibitive restrictions. The people consequently have no other means of displaying or witnessing adroitness in manly exer- cises except wrestling. In Lucknow itself, although popular as a spectacle, it is not much followed as an exercise. The notorious effiminacy and luxury of its inhabitants disincline them from the hard work of training and from the efforts and, indeed, dangers of the arena. Some of the wrestlers are sinewy and powerful men, but their success depends more upon perfect condi- tion, quickness, and thorough knowledge of all the stratagems than upon physical strength. The most powerful man at the 1874 tournament only measured 404 inches round the chest, but his arm was 17 inches in circum- ference over the biceps. In his case, however, no one could be found to face him, and he, according to custom, received a mere pittance as charity, while minor champions received large prizes. English professionals have occasionally tried their skill, but have always been defeated by the natives. There are two seasons for quail-fighting--the one from March to June before the rains, the other after the rains from October to January. Very large sums are wagered on these fights. An untrained quail may be bought for one anna; if one turns out a good fighter Rs. 500 will be refused for it. It is the general amusement of the poorer classes. Cock-fighting is carried on with some secrecy; the season is April and May, the cocks being trained for the sport throughout the cold weather, and being summered during the rains. The spurs are covered with seven folds of cotton cloth, consequently severe wounds are not given. The contests are prolonged for many hours to the inconvenience of the owners, who, if strict Musalmans, at the proper seasons spread their carpets an with faces turned towards Mecca, murmur their prayers interpolated with words of encouragement to the combatants. The sport is sometimes cruel, because the birds are not allowed to sleep during a fight, which sometimes lasts 40 hours; pauses are allowed, but during these the bird is made to walk up and down lest its bruises should stiffen its limbs. The season for kite-flying is more particularly in Kártik at the Diwali festival, but it lasts all the year except during the rains. The object of the players is to cut each others strings ; for this purpose they are glued and dipped in mica, so that by sawing the cord up and down in one spot the rival string is cut in two. There are professional kite-flyers, who show great skill in so working their reels that a steady friction is kept up at a height of many hundred yards upon a small portion of the enemy's string. The wealthier classes used to be devoted to dancing and singing or rather to watching and listening to them, but the taste is largely dying out. The causes of this are somewhat obscure. Lucknow is still a