ON THE JAPANESE. 229 



backs, or rubbed it impatiently between their 

 giant palms, or under their stout shoulders. 

 They now crouched low, still keeping their 

 eyes fixed on each other, and watching every 

 movement, until, in an instant, they had both 

 heaved their massive forms in opposing force, 

 body to body, with a shock that might have 

 stunned an ox. As they came together, they 

 had thrown their brawny arms around each 

 other, and were now entwined in a desperate 

 struggle, each striving with all his enormous 

 strength to throw his adversary. At last one of 

 the antagonists fell with his immense weight 

 heavily on the ground, and, having been declared 

 to be vanquished, was conducted from the ring. 

 Another man having been summoned to take 

 his place in it, put on an attitude of defence, 

 with one leg in advance, as if to steady himself 

 and his bent body, with his head lowered, placed 

 as if to receive an attack. Immediately after, 

 in rushed his opponent, bellowing loudly, like a 

 bull, and, making at the man in the ring, dashed, 

 with his head also lowered, and thrust forward 

 against the head of his adversary, who bore 

 the shock with the steadiness of a rock, although 

 the blood streamed down his face. This attack 



