C OCK- FIGHTING. 
30 ; 
rajahs meet, and most intensely exciting, as they all have weapons ready for the least affiont, and 
no man can offer another a greater insult than saying to him ‘ Eteeh ber taji (i.e., ‘ Duck-spurred ’) 
— the contrast is between the duck and, to their minds, the noblest of birds, a Game-cock ! I have 
seen hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars lost and won on one fight of a few minutes’ duration ; 
and they go on most of the daylight after they once begin, about noon.” 
Some little must be added respecting cock-fighting as formerly and still carried on at home 
for this cruel sport, though now popularly supposed to be suppressed, and, indeed, happily no 
longer permitted in public, is nevertheless occasionally practised in secret to an extent, and often 
by a class of individuals, which, if known, would make many of our readers and some (not all) of 
the “ authorities” open their eyes in surprise. We have never witnessed a fight, and never intend 
doing so ; but we heard of one some years ago being fought out at the country seat of an 
earl’s son, and could name more than one highly-respected gentleman who is known to be 
addicted to the forbidden “ diversion.” We shall, however, confine ourselves to a few brief 
historical particulars 
We have already seen that cock-fighting took root in England at a very early age ; but it 
is some consolation to reflect that from a very early age, also, there have not been wanting those 
high in station who deemed it an unfit pursuit to be allowed to Englishmen. It was prohibited 
by both Edward III., and Henry VIII. (though the less said about the humanity of the last 
the better) ; and since then many succeeding edicts were passed against it, including one from 
Oliver Cromwell. On the other hand, many British monarchs (including King James) have 
been partial to cocking,* and a century ago the pit at Westminster was allowed to claim the 
title of “ Royal;” and its rules, though they can now only be understood by cockers themselves, 
and with the aid of other more modern regulations, which act as commentaries, still serve as 
the legal or acknowledged rules of such fighting as still takes place in England. This celebrated 
pit is now entirely suppressed. We may add, as showing how openly recognised the pursuit 
under discussion at one time was, that a regular treatise upon it formed part of all the older 
editions of “ Hoyle’s Games.” 
Previous to fighting, the cocks were always subjected to a regular course of training 01 
preparation, just as in the case of pugilists, or competitors in more innocent athletic sports ; the 
object in this case, as in those, being to reduce the weight by eliminating all superfluous flesh, and 
leave the bird in the height of mere muscular power, spirit, and endurance. Every “cock-feeder” 
or trainer, almost, had his secret ; and some of these secrets were highly valued. Aperient 
medicine was almost always given, followed by a spare diet of the most curious compounds ; and 
the birds were regularly “sparred ” or sweated, by having their spurs muffled, and being allowed 
then to peck and fly at each other, care being of course taken that they inflicted no serious injury. 
This treatment was carried on for a period varying from a week to a fortnight : but in some cases, 
where the time was very short, the poor birds were “ reduced ” very fast by being swung vigorously 
upon a clothes-line; their efforts to “hold on” causing them to perspire freely. Modern 
“ authorities ” skilled in these matters, doubt much if such severe treatment did not often cause 
more harm than good ; but into this question we have no motive for entering. 
Before fighting, the cock was “cut out of feather,” as it was called ; that is, the hackles and 
saddle-feathers were cut short, the sickles and tail-feathers were “docked” like the tail of a 
race-horse, the wing and other feathers also trimmed. This was to prevent the opposing bird 
* Amongst cock-fighters, the pursuit is always called “cocking,” and those addicted to it “cockers.” 
