A VOYAGE TO 
1777* But no perfon, who has been vanquifhed, can engage with 
. his conqueror a fecond time. 
The boxers advance fide-ways, changing the fide at every 
pace, with one arm ftretched fully out before, the other be¬ 
hind ; and holding a piece of cord in one hand, which they 
wrap firmly about it, when they find an antagonifl, or elfe 
have done fo before they enter. This, I imagine, they do, 
to prevent a diflocation of the hand or fingers. Their blows 
are directed chiefly to the head; but fometimes to the 
tides; and are dealt out with great activity. They fhift 
fides, and box equally well with both hands. But one of 
their favourite and moll dextrous blows, is, to turn round 
on their heel, juft as they have ftruck their antagonift, and 
to give him another very fmart one with the other hand 
backward. 
The boxing matches feldom laft long; and the parties 
either leave off together, or one acknowledges his being 
beat. But they never ling the fong of victory in thefe 
cafes, unlefs one ftrikes his adverfary to the ground ; which 
fhews, that, of the two, wreftling is their moft approved 
diverfion. Not only boys engage, in both the exercifes, 
but frequently little girls box very obftinately for a fhort 
time. In all which cafes, it doth not appear, that they ever 
confider it as the fmalleft difgrace to be vanquifhed; and 
the perfon overcome fits down, with as much indifference, 
as if he had never entered the lifts. Some of our people 
ventured to contend with them in both exercifes, but were 
always worfted; except in a few inftances, where it appear¬ 
ed, that the fear they were in of offending us, contributed 
more to the victory, than the fuperiority of the perfon they 
engaged. 
The cattle, which wq had brought, and which were all 
on 
