142 A JOURNEY TO THE 



1771. and particularly their wives, [105] from the hands of those 

 ^^'' powerful ravishers ; some of whom make almost a livelihood 

 by taking what they please from the weaker parties, without 

 making them any return. Indeed, it is represented as an act 

 of great generosity, if they condescend to make an unequal 

 exchange ; as, in general, abuse and insult are the only return 

 for the loss which is sustained. 



The way in which they tear the women and other pro- 

 perty from one another, though it has the appearance of the 

 greatest brutality, can scarcely be called fighting. I never 

 knew any of them receive the least hurt in these rencontres ; 

 the whole business consists in hauling each other about by the 

 hair of the head : they are seldom known either to strike or 

 kick one another. It is not uncommon for one of them to cut 

 off his hair and to grease his ears, immediately before the con- 

 test begins. This, however, is done privately ; and it is some- 

 times truly laughable, to see one of the parties strutting about 

 with an air of great importance, and calling out, " Where is 

 he ^ Why does he not come out ^ " when the other will bolt 

 out with a clean shorned head and greased ears, rush on his 

 antagonist, seize him by the hair, and though perhaps a much 

 weaker man, soon drag him to the ground, while the stronger 

 is not able to lay hold on him. It is very frequent on those 

 occasions for each party to have spies, to watch the other's 

 motions, which puts them more on a footing of equality. For 

 want of hair to pull, they [106] seize each other about the 

 waist, with legs wide extended, and try their strength, by 

 endeavouring to vie who can first throw the other down. 



On these wrestling occasions the standers-by never attempt 

 to interfere in the contest ; even one brother offers not to 

 assist another, unless it be with advice, which, as it is always 

 delivered openly on the field during the contest, may, in fact, 

 be said to be equally favourable to both parties. It sometimes 

 happens that one of the wrestlers is superior in strength to 

 the other ; and if a woman be the cause of the contest, the 



