232 THE GAME FOWL. 



artificial spur used in Sumatra, resembles in shape the blade 

 of a scimetar, and proves a more destructive weapon than the 

 European spur. It has no socket, but is tied to the leg, and 

 in the position of it the nicety of the match is legulated. As, 

 in horse-racing, weight is proportioned to inches, so, in cocking, 

 a bird of superior size and weight is brought to an equality 

 with his adversary, by fixing the steel spur so many scales of 

 the leg above the natural spur, and thus obliging him to fight 

 with a degree of disadvantage. It rarely happens that both 

 Cocks survive the combat. 



" In the northern parts of the island, where gold-dust is the 

 common medium of gambling, as well as of trade, so much is 

 accidently dropped in weighing and delivering, that at some 

 Cock-pits, where the resort of people is great, the sweepings 

 are said, probably with exaggeration, to be worth upwards of a 

 thousand dollars per annum to the owner of the ground j be- 

 sides his profit of twofanams (fivepence) for each battle. 



" In some places they match quails, in the manner of Cocks. 

 These fight with great inveteracy, and endeavour to seize each 

 other by the tongue. The Achenese bring also into combat 

 the dial-bird (moori) which resembles a small magpie, but has 

 an agreeable, though imperfect note. They sometimes engage 

 one another on the wing, and drop to the ground in the struggle." 

 Marshal's History of Sumatra, pp. 236-8. London, 1783. 



This extraordinary account is not without the confirmation 

 which it needs : 



" The Indians, (of Manilla,) in common with all Malays, are 

 passionately fond of Cock-fighting, but they are not permitted 

 to indulge at pleasure this inclination. An Indian rarely 

 walks out without a Cock, and as soon as he meets another In- 

 dian with one under his arm, the two birds are set down, and 

 immediately engage : but battles with steel spurs are only 

 permitted in a place formed for the purpose, which is farmed 

 from the king, at a rent of twenty or twenty-five thousand 



