WRESTLERS 463 



ing, I should judge, at least two hundred and fifty pounds, 

 with fat, indeed, hanging down in big loops over his belt, 

 I exclaimed that it was not possible for such a man to 

 wrestle. And I was right; according to our rules he 

 could not wrestle at all. But Japanese matches require 

 far less endurance than our own long collar -and -elbow 

 matches, or than any style admissible among us. A Jap- 

 anese bout lasts often but five or ten seconds ; rarely a 

 hundred; and bouts are never more than best two in 

 three. The idea of rules which will keep a man at work 

 for two hours or more has not occurred to them. So 

 many things end a bout that the fat man runs no chance 

 of getting winded ; he scarcely has to use his lungs. The 

 ring is not much over a dozen feet in diameter, and if he 

 can force his lighter opponent out of it, or throw him in 

 any manner whatever, or force him on one knee, he wins. 

 A fall in Japan means any fall ; a man need not be put 

 flat on his back. The fat man himself is hard to move ; 

 you cannot get a hold on his slippery, bulky corporosity ; 

 so long as he has to make no running fight which will ex- 

 haust him, he is master of the situation. But in a match 

 that called on him for lung power he would be nowhere, 

 despite his mere strength and weight. A lively antago- 

 nist who would jump all round him and keep him moving 

 would soon tire him out. 



Though the average Japanese nag is a poor specimen, 

 an occasional army officer has a fairly decent pony, well 

 kept and neatly saddled. A few European residents in 

 the treaty-ports and Tokyo keep saddle-beasts, but they 

 are far from good. There are some at livery in the big 

 cities ; but not one of those I have seen would you or I 

 condescend to throw a leg across at home. A fairish cob 

 may now and then be observed in a victoria or a dog-cart ; 

 and when he is groomed and harnessed properly he is better 



