POLO IN INDIA 281 



year caused many army men to be employed on the relief 

 works. They learnt the game from the planters, and on re- 

 joining their regiments introduced it. The 54th Regiment 

 were then at the top of the tree, but when the loth Hussars 

 went out, the latter soon demonstrated that small ponies were 

 of little use against bigger ones. Then the 9th Lancers on 

 their arrival in India in 1875 took to the sport in earnest, and 

 to their example as well as to that of the loth Hussars and 

 54th Regiments, combined with the causes I have previously 

 .alluded to, may be traced the popularity polo gained among 

 riding men. During the great assemblage at Delhi in 1876, 

 when regiments from all parts of India met, the question was 

 :seriously discussed, an annual Inter-Regimental Tournament was 

 resolved on, rules were drawn up, the four-a-side game adopted, 

 and the pastime put on the footing it now holds. In 1877 the 

 first of these meetings was held at Meerut, and the game there 

 played was practically the same as that at present played in 

 England. To Colonel St. Quintin, now commanding the 8th 

 Hussars, but then in the loth Hussars, must be given the 

 credit for calling this meeting at Delhi and putting matters on 

 the basis they have assumed : he was unanimously elected 

 Hon. Secretary of the Inter-Regimental Polo Tournament, and 

 during his stay in India may certainly be looked upon as having 

 been the leading man. The Inter-Regimental meetings gave a 

 ; great fillip to the game, and from 1877 down to the present 

 time these have been held annually either at Umballa or Meerut, 

 with the exception of the years 1879-80, when the Afghan War 

 prevented play. The 9th Lancers were the heroes of these 

 gatherings, having won the tournament no fewer than five 

 times, besides winning the Calcutta Open Cup in 1885, while 

 the 8th and loth Hussars and the i7th Lancers can each claim 

 two victories apiece, and the 5th Lancers two. In 1883 the 

 loth Hussars presented a cup to be contested for by Native 

 Cavalry regiments, and this is still kept up and played for 

 annually. The Calcutta Polo Club also give a cup, open to 

 all comers, and the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, that most 



