FIELD SPORTS OF NORTHERN LUZON 



239 



Eventually a smart constabulary- 

 soldier makes a try. When he 

 reaches the hitherto unclimbed and 

 consequently most slippery portion 

 of the pole, he produces wood ashes 

 from the waistband of his clout, 

 and, holding on with his legs, pro- 

 ceeds to apply them. In this way 

 he gets near the top ; but at the last, 

 when he can almost grab the bag, 

 his strength gives out. Down he 

 slides, slowly at first and then 

 faster and faster, hitting the ground 

 with a resounding thud, and shak- 

 ing his burned hands as he goes off 

 to renew his stock of ashes. Mean- 

 while a long-haired heathen from 

 the north starts with a running 

 jump, goes up the bamboo like a 

 streak, and grabs the bag. 



The small boy is noc forgotten. 

 He is allowed to bury his face in 

 a wash-basin of flour and grope for 

 coins, which, when found, must be 

 seized in his mouth ; or, he is blind- 

 folded and hunts for dearly loved 

 cans of salmon scattered on the 

 ground. He forms war parties, 

 which attack each other with runo 

 stems in lieu of lances, and, in gen- 

 eral, like the small boys of other 

 countries, he makes a prodigious 

 noise, gets in everybody's way, and 

 lias a wholly delightful time. 



THE TUG-OF-WAR 



And now comes the great event 

 •of the day. The wild man accepts 

 with appreciation the American's 

 greased-pole contests and wheel- 

 barrow races, and grows enthusi- 

 astic over foot-races, but he has 

 taken the tug-of-war to his bosom 

 and made it his own. 



Samoqui and Talubin, old enemies, are 

 to pull first, twelve men on a side, 

 coached by their respective presidentes 

 and cheered on by most of the male citi- 

 zens of their respective towns. 



A heavy rope is produced and a white 

 string is tied at its center for a marker. 

 Two canes are stuck up a yard apart, 

 and the American referee puts his foot 

 on the rope with the white mark exactly 



THE) WINNERS OF THE GIRLS FOOT-RACE) 



The girl on the left won first prize, the roll of cotton 

 which she holds in her hands 



midway between these canes. The mem- 

 bers of the two teams silently take their 

 places and vigorously begin to dig foot- 

 holds. The ''anchors' 1 have no belts, but 

 wrap the ends of the rope around their 

 bare waists. Each presidente counts the 

 members of the opposing team to be sure 

 that their number is correct. The men 

 are now warned to get ready. Digging 

 ceases and they stand like statues. 



The pistol cracks and the rope tightens 



