134 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
catching and returning those thrown at them, or ward¬ 
ing them off so as to avoid receiving any injury. In 
this latter exercise, they excelled to an astonishing 
degree. We know some men who have stood and 
allowed six men to throw their javelins at them, which 
they would either catch, and return on their assailants, 
or so dexterously turn aside, that they fell harmless to 
the ground. 
Wrestling was also practised by the more athletic 
youth, as a preparation to the single combats usual in 
almost every battle. 
Sometimes they had sham fights, when large num¬ 
bers engaged, and each party advanced and retreated, 
attacked and defended, and exercised all the manoeu¬ 
vres employed in actual engagement. 
Admirably constituted by nature with fine-formed 
bodies, supple joints, strong and active limbs, accus¬ 
tomed also to a light and cumberless dress, they took 
great delight in these gymnastic and warlike exercises, 
and in the practice of them spent no inconsiderable 
portion of their time. 
Whenever war was in contemplation, the poe Jciro 
(diviners and priests) were directed to slay the accus¬ 
tomed victims, and consult the gods. Animals only 
were used on these occasions, generally hogs and 
fowls. The priests offered their prayers and the divi¬ 
ners sacrificed the victims, observed the manner in 
which they expired, the appearance of their entrails, 
and other signs. Sometimes, when the animal was 
slain, they embowelled it, took out the spleen, and, 
holding it in their hands, offered their prayers. If they 
did not receive an answer, war was deferred. They 
also slept in the temple where the gods were kept, 
