324 



STAY ON THE RIO GRANDE DE i3ELMO-NTE, 



breast, so that they staggered back, and then began to ply their 

 poles. One first struck with all his might at the other, regardless 

 where the blow fell : his antagonist bore the first attack seriously and 

 calmly, without changing countenance ; he then took his turn, and 

 thus they belaboured each other with severe blows, the marks of 

 which long remained visible in the large wheals on their naked 

 bodies. As there were on the poles many sharp stumps of branches 

 which had been cut off, the effect of the blows was not always con- 

 fined to bruises, but the blood flowed from the heads of many of the 

 combatants. When two of them had thus thrashed each other hand- 

 somely, two more came forward ; and several pair were often seen 

 engaged at once : but they never laid hands on one another. When 

 these combats had continued for some time, they again walked about 

 with a serious look, uttering tones of defiance, till heroic enthusiasm 

 again seized them, and set their poles in motion. 



Meanwhile, the women also fought valiantly ; amidst continual 

 weeping and howling, they seized each other by the hair, struck with 

 their fists, scratched with their nails, tore the plugs of wood out of 

 each other's ears and lips, and scattered them on the field of battle as 

 trophies. If one threw her adversary down, a third, who stood 

 behind, seized her by the legs, and threw her down likewise, and 

 then they pulled each other about on the ground. The men did not 

 degrade themselves so far as to strike the women of the opposite 

 party, but only pushed them with the ends of their poles, or kicked 

 them on the side, so that they rolled over and over. The lamenta- 

 tions and bowlings of the women and children likewise resounded 

 from the neighbouring huts, and heightened the effect of this most 

 singular scene. 



In this manner the combat continued for about an hour ; when all 

 appeared weary, some of the savages showed their courage and perse- 

 verance, by walking about among the others, uttering their tones of 



