96 STUDIES OF NATURE 



jib. A man goes out in a smaller boat and 

 covers the mast with grease ; then he hangs a 

 leg of mutton at the extremity. When all is 

 ready the competitors, partially clothed, begin 

 the contest. They have to walk the long 

 greased pole with bare feet, and snatch away 

 the mutton as they fall into the water. Nine 

 times out of ten a man will fall long before he 

 comes near the point. He takes a step or two 

 forward, then there comes a wave, the boat 

 sways, the mast goes up and down, the slippery 

 foothold is lost, you see a figure ludicrously 

 quivering in the air, and then down he goes, 

 head over heels, in the water ; he swims round, 

 and while he is being pulled into the boat 

 another competitor tries his fortune. The 

 interest is increased by the fact that a number 

 of young exquisites visitors from the hotel 

 have entered the lists against the boatmen. 

 They have no chance, however, and as one 

 ' curled darling ' after another tumbles igno- 



