POLO IN ENGLAND 263 



row of large conspicuous scoring balls, usually from seven to ten 

 in number. The wire on the right has red balls for the red side ; 

 that on the left, white balls for the white side. Behind are stationed 

 two scorers, whose duty it is to attend to the scoring balls for 

 either side, as well as to proclaim each point made in the game by 

 loud strokes on a drum for the white side, and on a gong for the 

 red side. In front of the barrier, at a distance of 1 8 ft., is a padded 

 railing, 3 ft. high, stretching across the course and marking the 

 limit up to which the players may approach the screen. At the 

 opposite or starting end of the enclosure another railing, 18 ft. 

 from that end, also stretches across the course ; and behind it two 

 heaps of balls are piled on the ground one red, the other white, 

 together with two smaller heaps one of red balls hooped with 

 white and the other of white balls hooped with black. An attendant 

 tosses these balls as required into the arena for the riders, which, 

 owing to the deduction of 18 ft. at each end (as above explained) 

 measures 180 ft. by 60 ft. All the balls are made of paper with a 

 cover of very small pebbles and bamboo fibre. Their diameter is 

 17 inch, and they weigh very nearly i^ oz. For playing the game 

 each rider carries a light wand, called kiu-tsui, of tapering bamboo, 

 only about inch in diameter at the thick end and 3 ft. 8 in. long. 

 To its extremity is bound a flat, narrow strip of bamboo, bent over 

 so as to form a semicircle of i '5-inch radius, the outer end of which 

 is held in position by a silken stay passing obliquely down to the 

 bamboo shaft, 2 inches from its head. The space is filled in with 

 light open network, just loose enough to sink into a saucer-shaped 

 hollow when weighted with the ball. Now for details of the game : 

 On each side, red and white, there are an equal number of players 

 usually from six to eight distinguished by the colour of their 

 headdress, and the object of each side is to get a certain number 

 of balls into the net at the goal. Seven is the ordinary number of 

 plain balls for a side, and in that case seven scoring balls of either 

 colour are strung out on the wires at the right and left of the 

 screen at the beginning of the game, the signal for which is given 

 by the umpire and echoed by a brisk peal from the gong and drum. 

 The riders, previously drawn up at the starting-point, now press 

 forward with the balls as thrown in to them by the attendant be- 

 hind the rails. Carrying, passing, casting any means providing 

 that the kiu-tsui, or stick, only is used are allowed for getting 

 the balls forward, until they are finally pitched into the net from 

 the hither side of the goal railing. Obstructive tactics are, of 



