152 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
detracted somewhat from the general dignity of his 
form and lineaments. 
The men wore no clothing, except a narrow strip 
of cloth round the waist ; and thus they advanced to 
the encounter. For some time they did not close, hut 
remained at a certain distance from each other, mak- 
ing a variety of sudden springs, and throwing their 
bodies into strange contortions, as if to show their 
amazing suppleness, and the extraordinary power 
they possessed of putting them into positions out of 
the ordinary course of nature. It was obvious that 
these preliminary movements were adopted merely to 
distract the attention, in order that any advantage 
might be taken of a momentary lapse of caution on 
either side. This skirmishing continued so long that 
it began to be fatiguing, when the Rajah showing 
much impatience, it was communicated to the wrest- 
lers, who, by mutual consent, immediately came to 
close quarters, and prepared in good earnest to strive 
for the mastery. Each grasped the other firmly by 
the wrist, and placing their heads together they began 
to push, as if to try each other’s strength. The taller 
man appeared to have the advantage when they first 
joined hands, as he stood over his antagonist, and 
from the superior length of his limbs kept him for 
some time at arm’s length, thus preventing the prompt 
exercise both of his strength and of his skill. At last 
the shorter wrestler, having succeeded in closing, placed 
his arm round the neck of his opponent, which he ap- 
peared to grasp with the clutch of a Hercules. The 
struggle now became excessively animated ; the com- 
batants writhed and twisted round each other without 
