436 MANIPURI POLO-PONY 



and good-looking horse ; but among the natives of India 

 a good horse is so rare that one must set the two hundred 

 and fifty milhons of this great peninsula down in equine 

 matters as far below the rank of other Orientals. The 

 little mountain pony is almost the only thing one sees 

 which has any attractive points ; the plains horse aver- 

 ages low. All those worth having go into the army. 



Polo is much more of a national sport in India than it 

 is in Europe. The English adopted it barely thirty years 

 ago; but they have assimilated it, as they do everything 

 that savors of athletics. The little Manipuri pony illus- 

 trated is a fair specimen of what is used in the native 

 sport. The Europeans sometimes import a small Arabian 

 for polo ; but the native has to be content with the best 

 of the clever ponies of the country. This little specimen 

 is not fast ; you cannot play a racing game with him ; 

 but he is nimble and intelligent, and makes good sport. 

 The native is an expert. Polo rules vary considerably 

 from ours, but the game is pursued with great enthusiasm 

 and skill. There may not be so many cracked heads or 

 mallet-shy ponies, for the Hindoo character quite lacks the 

 brutal side which degrades while it improves all sport ; 

 but the native game is quite as well worth watching as 

 many a game at Hurlingham. 



This little Manipuri is unquestionably allied to the 

 Burmah pony. He has the same chunky, short -legged 

 skeleton and the weight-carrying power which character- 

 izes the Burmese, apart from the fact that his habitat is 

 close by. Polo is played in many sections, and this same 

 pony is often a favorite with the English. 



Pig-sticking is said by those addicted to the sport to be 

 the most splendid one which can be pursued in the saddle. 

 I have heard even old fox-hunters give voice to this opin- 

 ion. AVhen you are running down a fine old boar, and, 



