R. Schomburgk^ Dr. Phil. li 
us they jumped out of their hammocks, the former laid hold 
of his emblem of chieftainship, a carved staff, which had 
been carefully wrapped up in palm leaves, and, with it in his 
hands, he solemely bid us welcome in a long and fluent speech. 
The Indians are passionately inclined to dissipation and 
entertainment. Until now we were only acquainted with 
their songs and wild dances ; here we became witness to their 
games. We often before heard of their wrestling games, 
but had never had an opportunity of seeing them. When 
we were informed that a game of this kind was to be per- 
formed we W”ere nearly dissappointed in our hopes to witness 
it, because the Warraus are not accustomed to begin their 
games before evening, when all the guests are assembled. It 
needed some presents to persuade them to depart from their 
custom. 
The place selected for the games was an extensive circle, 
situated outside the village, and carefully cleared of all 
grass. The players separated in four parties, who, with 
challenging gestures, moved to the place of combat. On 
a given signal, the single combats with the ha ha, a kind 
of shield, with which the combatants tried to force away 
one another from a certain place within the circle, which was 
maintained by the victor up to such a time imtil he had to 
make way for another combatant who was his superior in 
agility and power. The two who maintain the ground to the 
last, are with triumphant shouts declared victors, and are 
conducted to the paiwari trough, where they are met — young 
girls oflering them calabashes filled with the intoxicating 
drink. 
As simple as the game is, it cannot be denied that it must 
assist in the development and activity of the limbs and the 
strengthening of the muscles, and we Europeans followed 
with great attention, and with the most lively interest, the 
snake-like windings and extraordinary quickness with which 
the combatants took advantage of every favorable position 
and every offered advantage to gain their purpose ; and this 
bloodless game called to mind the more serious one of the 
gladiators of the ancient Romans. 
The vessels filled with intoxicating beverage seemed to have 
a great attraction for our boatmen, as only the strictness of 
the chieftain Clementy could move them to go to the boats,^ 
when they seized their paddles with unmistakable signs of 
discontent. 
