220 CAME COCKS. 



Information Large bones are always preferred in cocks, and it is art ex- 



respecting cellence to stand high on their legs, for this gives them an ad- 

 breeding,train- -, r f 



ing, and ma- vantage over those ot a squat make. 



nagementof 2d. The best manner of bringing up gamecocks, while 



gamecocks. .. ^ ,. r-i i 



young, IS m a larm yard, in as tree an air, and as much agreea- 

 ble to nature as possible. 



About three weeks or a month before they were to fight, I 

 put them up, as it is called, or put them in a dark close penn, 

 about two feet square. They are debilitated by being suffered 

 to run among the penns, and their muscles are not firm. The 

 first week 1 fed them upon barley, that is accounted a scouring 

 food, but it answered best at the first period of their confine- 

 ment. I fed Ihem three times a day by measure, I cannot now 

 ascertain the quantity, giving them very little water each time; 

 and once a day, or once in two days, took them out to spar, or 

 fight a few strokes with one another, with their spurs muffled. 

 The second week, and during the most of the remainder of 

 their confinement, I ("cd them on pure wheat, according to the 

 same measure, having always regard to the state and regularity 

 of their bowels, and giving a little barley, if they appeared cos- 

 tive. During the last three or four days I gave them white 

 bread, according to the same measure, though I do not think 

 bread was any better than wheat; and some that I fed en- 

 tirely on wheat, after the first week seemed to do quite as well 

 as those which had bread. 



This was die whole of the process which I. employed. I 

 could always tell, by the firmness of the breast, whether my 

 cocks were in order. I found them by far the strongest, without 

 diminishing their activity, when they were pliwip but firm, 

 without fat; and I question but they would have eaten as fine, 

 and had nearly as much firm muscular flesh as a fowl from a 

 London poulterer's. With this mode of management my 

 cocks were four out of five, at least, successful. 



3d. The training of the cocks, in the manner I have des- 

 cribed, produces only a temporary effect; nor does it in the 

 least seem to shorten their lives. I have known them live and 

 fight at ten years old ; whereas the poultry in my yard at pre- 

 . sent seldom reach that period. 



4. I have heard of saffron and other drugs being given to 

 cocks; but mine, which were plainly fed, always beat them. 

 Opium or brandy may be necessary to Janisaries or French- 

 men, 



