was determined not to be conquered without
giving her followers a great deal of trouble.
This was one of the best gingling matches we
ever witnessed ; and twenty minutes elapsed
before the bell was silenced; or the gingler
caught.

JUMPING IN SACKS. Nothing can convey to
the reader, however sketchy and well written
it might be, the fun and laughter amongst the
spectators produced by this crippled sort of
agility several of the candidates went down
never to rise again without the assistance of
some friend ; in truth, their exertions could not
come under the denomination either of a hop,
skip, or a jump. The appearance too of tho
candidates was of the most ludicrous descrip-
tion to see only their Johnny Raw nobs peep-
ing out of the sacks beggared all description.
But one of the candidates, more knowing than
any of the rest, observed, grinning to the
crowd, that he would not be sacked this time,
and was determined to win. He held the
sack tight under his feet, never lost his ba-
lance, and took very small, but steady and
firm jumps, by which means he was also ena-
bled to keep his feet upon the ground, and
won the prize amidst loud shouts of applause
from the crowd. The winner was also a bit
of a punster in his way, and laughed heartily
at his own joke, when he told the losing ones,
he called it sucking the prize !

CLIMBING UP A GREASY POLE FOR A LI:G OF
MUTTON. The above feature, for fun, frolic,
and laughter, beat all the other sports of the
day, two to one. It was a slippery thing al-
together, and the disappointments which oc-
curred to the numerous candidates to grapple
with the mutton, were of the most ludicrous
description. All manner of schemes were re-
sorted to obtain the delicious joint which was
tied to the top of a long pole, about fifty feet
from the ground. The country hawbucks had
not the slightest chance whatever, although
some of them threw resin and sawdust on the
pole as they climbed up, to reduce its flipperi*
ness; but all attempts were useless, and they
came down much faster than they got up
indeed they all came down with a run, without
moving their legs, to the great amusement of
a very large multitude of spectators, who had
assembled together for miles round to enjoy
the humours of a RUSTIC FETE. But a young
son of Neptune, a dreadnought hero, offered
himself for the prize, and ascended the pole-
like a seaman : but he had scarcely gpt up



266



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



half the way to the mutton, when he came
down like a shot; but little Jack, too game
to be denied, and well knowing that nothing
venture, nothing win, he made another trial of
skill and courage, obtained a few paces
nearer to the leg of mutton than before, but
down he came again to the ground before you
could say Jack Robinson. A pyramid was
then formed by three or four men at the bot-
tom of the pole, and another pyramid also on
them, when Little Jack again had another
trial, amidst the shouts of the multitude,
trying a different scheme ; having a piece of
rope in his hand with a noose at the end of it,
he fastened the rope round the pole, and
pulled himself up so successfully by it, that
he touched the mutton with his left hand, re-
ceiving the loudest tokens of approbation,
and several wagers were laid that the leg of
mutton would soon be in his possession, but it
was tied so tight to the pole, that Jack could
not remove it, therefore his knife was ne-
cessary to release the leg from its confined
situation ; but as many things happen be-
tween the 'cup and the lip,' Little Jack, in
searching his pockets for the bit of steel, lost
his hold, when he came down with a run, and
also knocked both his pyramids to (he ground,
to the great laughter and shouts of the crowd.
However, nothing dismayed by the disap-
pointment, the pyramids were again formed,
and little Jack ascended once more the pole,
determined on victory. He tied the rope as
before, twisted his legs round the pole, and
worked well with his knees, and after making
three or four slips, but never exactly loosing
his situation, he firmly ascended the pole, and
clapping his left hand on the top of it, the
critical minute again arrived, when Jack felt
for his knife the eyes of the crowd were now
in suspense, and doubts and fears were ex-
pressed upon the subject, when little Jack
flourished his knife, put an end to all surmises,
and separated the leg of mutton from the pole.
He remained in this situation for about a mi-
nute, enjoying the plaudits of the multitude
for his exertions when he descended in
quick time, holding the mutton fast in his
hand. Several persons were so pleased with
little Jack's exertions, that a subscription
was entered into for him, and his cap was
soon filled with halfpence, when little Jack
exclaimed, " the mutton would not go without
sauce to it" " nor capers neither," said an
culd tar, who had been contemplating the
Rustic scene.

Such were the humorous features displayed
at one of the Rustic Fetes at NOHTHFLEET it
was all happiness; every body appeared
pleased and satisfied , -and not the slightest
disorder occurred : we therefore feel ourselves
perfectly correct in asserting that no man can
be viewed as a friend to his country, or a
supporter of the government, who would en-
deayour in the slightest degree to interfere or
prevent the people from enjoying those SPORTS
which have been handed down to them from



their forefathers, and which tend so much to
lighten TOIL, and to promote HAPPINESS.
Amicus humani generis.



SINGULAR DEER CHASE.

An extraordinary day's sport at Spy Park,
the residence of Colonel Thornton. October,
1815, in Spy Park, Wiltshire, notwithstand-
ing the unexampled heat of the weather
(which caused a thermometer to burst), a party
of ladies and gentlemen riding and driving
through the park, and the rides of the neigh-
bouring coppices and woods, a milk-white,
full-headed, aged buck, fat as an ortolan,
made his appearance. The company were all
anxious to hunt him, which was immediately
complied with ; a couple of blood-hounds
were sent for, and notwithstanding the sun
was at its height (one o'clock, merely to take
a canter, and not to kill him) the hounds, not
to be surpassed in symmetry and beauty, were
then laid on the slot ; they very faintly ac-
knowledged the scent, but by perseverance
they got up to his layer, and he was un-
harboured in view of all the company, and
also at the same instant a six-year-old mennel-
coloured heaver. To prevent the hounds
dividing, they were rated up to the milk-
white buck, which the ladies called Adonis ;
he made a circle, and, passing through several
coppices, tried different modes of getting into
the park, in sight of all the company and the
hounds, which were stopped,and ordered to lay
down ; at last he seemed to have formed some
resolution, and dashed over some very high
palings, which he cleared, with a crash, into
Foxbury copse. He shone like flying silver,
beautiful to behold ! The hounds were again
laid on, when they ran him (now heated)
merrily ; their ardour was checked frequently
by gleams of sun, and he was nearly lost in
dry roads, hot sands, &c., but by perseverance,
after running him through Bowden Wood,
Loxley Heath, Sandy Lane, he crossed over
to Bean Wood (Lord Lansdowne's). These
unerring hounds, in spite of the above obsta-
cles, killed him after a run of five hours. The
names of Luther and Mahomet are worthy to
be recorded, and drank in many a bumper.
If a couple of hounds can afford the above
sport, under all these circumstances, why
have we such immense packs ? they would save
to a sportsman a fortune. When the crimson-
stained sledge brought up the buck to the
portico, the ladies, then so gay, turned away
from the scene, and with tears, exclaimed,
Alas ! poor Adonis.



THE MELODIOUS RICE BIRD.

The cultivators of rice in America some-
times suffer severely from the depredations of
the rice bird of Catesby (emberiza oryzivoraj,



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



267



known familiarly in the country by the name
of Bob Lincoln. This bird is about six or
seven inches long; its head, and the under
part of its body are black ; the upper part is
a 'mixture of black, white, and yellow,
and the legs are red. Immense flocks of these
birds are seen in the island of Cuba, where
the rice crop precedes that of Carolina ; but
when, from the hardening of the grain, the
rice in that quarter is no longer agreeable to
them, they migrate towards the north, and
pass over the sea in such numerous parties as
to be sometimes heard in their flights by sailors
frequenting that course. These birds appear
in Carolina while the rice is yet milky. Their
attacks upon the grain while in this state are
so destructive as to bring considerable loss
upon the farmers. The birds arrive in the
United States very lean, but thrive so well
upon their favorite diet, that during the three
weeks to which their visit is usually limited,
they become excessively fat, so as to fly with
difficulty, and, when shot, to be burst with
the fall. So soon as the rice begins to harden
here, they retire to other parts, remaining in
one place only so long as the rice continues
green. When this food entirely fails, they
have recourse for their subsistence to insects,
until the maize begins to form its grains, and
then the milky substance which these contain
is devoured with the same avidity that marks
their attacks upon the rice-plant. Extensive
flocks of the oryzivora are found during the
spring and summer in New York and Rhode
Island ; there they breed, quitting with their
young for the southward, in time for the tender
rice-grains of Cuba. It is remarkable that
the males and females do not migrate in com-
pany, the females being always the first to
perform their voyages. These birds are eaten
as a great delicacy, and the song of the male
is said to be melodious.



THE DISAPPOINTED SPORTSMAN.

AN ANCIENT STORY, IN VERSE.

One time, as 'twas my ordinary wont,

I went abroad into the fields to hunt :

Started a hare, pursued her with full cry,

And near wearied her ; when by and bye,

Miso, because I hunted on his grounds,

Let loose his running dogs, and bang'd my hounds ;

From thence that sport 1 utterly forswore,

Being so un indly rrost by such a bore ;

So, shunning th' open fields, and forests wide,

My common haunt was by the water side.

For what, thought I, though lands enclosed be,

Yet seas and rivers questionless are free :

There will 1 sport me with a scaly fry,

Fearless, though all the world were standing by.

I had not scarce cast in my bait to take,

But straight one comes, it seems he haste did make,

That bids me pack, wben first I did appear :

Away went I, it was no fishing there.

Scarce knowing now what sport to entertain,

Being banished both the earth and wat'ry plain,

Took a piece next time, and forthwith went.

To sport me in the aeiry regiment ;

\Vhere, having scarce discharg'd to kill a daw,

Another comes, and brings me Statute Law

Upon my piece, where 1 it lost : then swore

7 ne'er would hunt, nor angle, nor shoot, more ;

Then took 1 dice in hand, my heavy fate,

Thus, crost in all, I lost my whole estate.



PRESENCE OF MIND ; OR AN ALLIGATOR DE-
PRIVED OF HIS PREY.

In the height of the dry season, when in
those torrid regions all animated nature pants
with consuming thirst, a party of the wood-
cutters, English and liish, went to hunt in.
the neighbourhood of a lake called Pies Pond
in Beef Island, one of the smaller islands of
the bay of Campeachy. To this pond the
wild cattle repaired in herds to drink, and
here the hunters lay in wait for them. The
chase bad been prosecuted with great success
for a week, when an Irishman of the party,
going into the water during the day, stumbled
upon an alligator, which seized him by the
knee. His cries alarmed his companions,
who, fearing that he had been seized by the
Spaniards, to whom the island belonged, and
who chose the dry season to hunt and repel
their unwelcome neighbours, instead of afford-
ing assistance, fled from the huts they had
erected. The Irishman, seeing no appearance
of help, with happy presence of mind quietly
waited till the alligator loosened its teeth to
take a new and surer hold ; and, when it did
so, snatched away his knee, interposing the
butt-end of his gun in its stead, which the
animal seized so firmly that it was jerked out
of the man's hand, and carried it off. He
then crawled up a neighbouring tree, again
shouting after his comrades, who now found
courage to return. His gun was found next
day, dragged ten or twelve paces from the
place where it had been seized by the alligator.



THE WHITE ELEPHANT OF AVA.

" A singularly absurd custom takes place in
this country (observes Mrs. Judson), in cer-
tain forms of political homage shown to a
white elephant, an animal kept for the pur-
pose, superbly lodged near the royal palace,
sumptuously dressed and fed, provided with
functionaries like a sovereign, held next in
rank to the king, and superior to the
queen, and made to receive presents, and
other tokens of respect, from foreign ambas-
sadors.

" I dare not attempt a description of that
splendid day when majesty, with all its at-
tendant glory, entered the gates of the golden
city, .and amid the acclamations of millions,
I may say, took possession of the palace. The
saupwars of the provinces bordering on China,
all the viceroys and high officers of the king-
dom, were assembled on the occasion, dressed
in their robes of state, and ornamented with
the insignia of their office. The white ele-
phant, richly adorned with gold and jewels,
was one of the most beautiful objects in the
procession. The king and queen alone were
unadorned, dressed in the simple garb of the
country. They, hand in hand, entered the
garden in which we had taken our seats, and
where a banquet was prepared for their re-



268



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



freshment. All the riches and glory of the
empire were on this day exhibited to view.
The number, and immense size of the ele-
phants, the numerous horses, and great
variety of vehicles of all descriptions, far sur-
passing any thing I have ever seen or
imagined.

" Within the first gate of the palace is a
very large court, on both sides of which are
the houses for the king's elephants, which are
wonderfully large and handsome, and are
trained for war and for the King's service.
Among the rest, he has four white elephants,
which are a great rarity, no other King
having any but he ; and, were any other King
to have any, he would send for it, and if re-
fused would go to war for it, and would
rather lose a great part of his kingdom thaii
not have the elephant. When any white
elephant is brought to the King, all the mer-
chants in the city are commanded to go and
visit him, on which occasion each individual
makes a present of half a ducat, which
amounts to a good round sum, as there are a
vast many merchants : after which present
you may go and see them at your pleasure,
although they stand in the King's house.
Among his titles, the King takes that of King
of the white elephants. They do great honor
and service to these white elephants ; every
one of them having a house with gold, and
getting their food in vessels of gilt silver.
Every day, when they go to the river to wash,
each goes under a canopy of cloth of gold or
silk, carried by six or eight men; and eight
or ten men go before each, playing on drums,
shawms, and other instruments. When each
has washed, and is come out of the river, he
has EP gentleman to wash his feet in a silver
basin, which office is appointed by the King.
There is no such account made of the black
elephants, be they ever so great ; and some
of them are wonderfully large and handsome,
some being nine cubits high.

" While we were at Ava, a report was
brought, that a white elephant had been seen;
but it was stated, at the same time, that its
capture, and transport on a sledge, over the
cultivated country, would be accompanied by
the destruction of ten thousand baskets of
rice. His Majesty is said to have exclaimed,
more with the enthusiasm of an amateur than
the consideration of a patriot King, ' What
signifies the destruction of ten thousand
baskets of rice, in comparison with the pos-
session of a white elephant ?' and the order
was given for the hunt.

" The lower order, however, it must be ob-
served, perform the shiko, or obedience of
submission, to the white elephant; but the
chiefs view this as a vulgar superstition, and
do not follow it. When the present elephant
was taken, the event was considered a joyous
one ; and the late King, who was fond of
money, taking advantage of the circumstance,
issued an order to the tributaries and chiefs,
to ask pardon of the white elephant (Ka-duu),



accompanied, of course, by the usual presents,
which his majesty deposited in his coffers.

" The establishment of the white elephant
is very large ; he has his Wun, or minister ;
his Wun-dauk, or deputy to that officer ; his
Sare*-gyi, or secretary, &c., with a considera-
ble endowment of land for his maintenance.
In the late reign, Sa len, one of the finest dis-
tricts in the kingdom, was the estate of the
white elephant."



OH ! FOR A GLASS OF MAX."

BYRON'S " DON JUAN.
Cheer up, fill your glass, -.or while fortune is brewing

An ocean of care, well a-day !
There is nothing in life, like a drop of blue ruin,"

To drive the blue devils away.
When you start for the " mill;" a race ; orto shoot,

Good judgment to keep out the cold ;
'Tis the ' liquor of lite,' with spirits ' to coot

" OLD TOM" is better than gold.

When Love turns his back, and old friendships are
failing,

And the spirits are sinking therefrom
The only receipt, that is ne'er unavailing,

Js a jolly stiff glass of " OLD TOM."

When into the valley of years we're declining

And age comes, our pleasures to tax ;
.Vhen the fast-setting sun of our life's dimly shining

Oh ! brighten his beams with " Old Max."
Is the Poet ambitious of wreathing his tresses

With bays that shall ever be green ?
Let him quaff at this spring, for e'en Byron confesses

He found it the true Hippocrene.
Does the lover want words to address his dear maiden ?

Let bun straight to this fountain repair ;
Is his mistress unkind, and he droops, sorrow-laden

He will here find a spell 'gainst despair.

Then cheer up, fill your glass, for while fortune is
brewing

An ocean of care, well a-day !
Ihere is nothing in life, like a drop of "blue ruin "

lo drive the blue devils away.



A SKETCH OF THE SWALLOW
The swallow, and other birds of passage
that is, birds who fly from one country to ano-
ther, as the weather becomes unsuited to their
natures now begin to return to us. The
swallow is a general favourite. He comes
to us when nature is putting on her most
smiling aspect, and he stays with us through
the months of sunshine and gladness. " The
swallow," says Sir H. Davy, " is one of my
favorite birds, and a rival of the nightingale;
for he glads my sense of seeing as much as
the other does my sense of hearing. He is
the joyous prophet of the year, the harbinger
of the best season ; he lives a life of enjoy-
ment amongst the loveliest forms of nature ;
winter is unknown to him, and he leaves the
green meadows of England in autumn, for the
myrtle and orange groves of Italy, and for
the palms of Africa."

THE RETURN OF THE SWALLOW.

BY Miss STRICKLAND.

Lo ! Spring's gay heraM, fluttering with delight
Ihe joyous a wallow, is already here,



PIERCE EGANS BOOK OF SPORTS.



269



Who still proclaims her welcome visit here ;

When first we hail him in the circling flight,

He tells of smiling skies and seasons bright,

Of vernal buds, and all that shall appear

When summer crowns with flowery wreaths the year ;

And, dressed in rich luxuriance, charms the sight.

He hastes to meet her when her first seft gale

Sighs with sweet breath amidst her leafless bowers,

When early violets open in the vale

And April peeps through rainbow, suns, and showers,

Ere soug of nightingale with thrilling strains

Floats on the evening breeze o'er moonlight plains.



THE DETERMINED ROBBER AND THE SNAKE.
The following anecdote, which is extracted
from a work intituled, " Tales of the North-
West," displays such unheard-of temerity,
hardihood, daring, courage, bravado, and con-
tempt of death in an individual, call it by any
of those terms the reader may think proper,
that it scarcely appears credible ; and we do
not know in the whole course of our experi-
ence, and great variety of reading, ever to have
met with any thing like it. We recollect that
upon the ex-pugilistic champion, Tom Cribb,
(and a man possessing more real, or true
courage, is not to be found in the whole world)
once being tossed by a bull, that in his rage
and surprise at the moment, Tom wished " he
teas a Bull for the Bull's sake /" that he might
have tossed the bull into the air in his turn ;
but let the determined resolution of the robber
in his struggle with the serpent speak for
itself : " The boat having arrived at the port-
age of the Wisconsin, on his return to the
Sioux country, it was necessary to dry a part
of the cargo, which had been wet by a sho\v?r
the night preceding. The canvass used to
cover Macinac boats was spread upon the
ground to dry. While Le Due and his men
were engaged in eating, an enormous rattle-
snake crept out of the grass, and stretched
himself in the sun upon the canvass ; think-
ing, it is probable, that it was placed there for
his reception. It is well known that this
reptile is a generous enemy, never doing any
injury unless molested, nor then, without
giving warning. When Pinchon and his com-
rade returned, they perceived the individual
in question.

Le Due seized a stick to kill it, but Pin-
chon held his arm, while the serpent regarded
them with the utmost indifference. " Joe Le
Due," said Pinchon, " we are called brave
toen. Should you like to try which is the
best entitled to the name of the two 1"

" And how should that be tried ! You do
not wish to fight with me, I hope 1 I have no
inclination of that kind myself; I would far
rather drink with you."

"Nay, it can be tried without fighting.
Dare you will you catch that snake in your
bare hands ?"

" Despardieux ! no ! I will fight the In-
dians with you, as long and as often as you
please, but I will not fight such an enemy as
that."

" Well, then, it shall never be said that I



feared man or beast. If you will not catch
him, I will."

Disregarding all remonstrance, the despe-
rado laid himself down within a few feet of
the reptile. He moved bis hand towards him
as slowly as the hand of a clock, while the
snake raised his head, and looked him steadily
in the eye, without offering to strike. When
he had advanced his fingers within six inches
of the serpent, he snatched it up by the neck,
as quick as thought, and sprung upon his feet,
holding it out at arm's length. The reptile,
after a' few revolutions of its tail, fixed it
firmly round the man's neck, and began to
contract his body. Though one of the strong-
est of men, he felt his arm bend, in spite of
all the force of his muscles. Still his iron
nerves remained firm. He grasped his right
wrist with his left hand, and resisted with all
his might ; but the snake was too strong for
him ; when, at last, he saw its white fangs
within six inches of his face, his courage gave
way, and he cried to Le Due to come with his
knife. The snake was severed in two, and
Pinchon cast the part he held from him. The
animal had attained the full growth of its
species, and had thirty-two rattles.



ANOTHER DISPOSAL OF A SNAKE.

In Demerura, and the adjacent parts of
South America, Mr. Charles Waterman, a
most enterprising traveller, relates the follow-
ing adventure he had with a snake; and,
although not displaying any thing like the
hardihood of Pinchon, the robber, yet, never-
theless, it will be found extremely interesting :
" The sun (says he) had just passed the
meridian in a cloudless sky ; there was
scarcely a bird to be seen, for the winged
inhabitants of the forest, as though overcome
by heat, had retired to the thickest shades ;
all would have been like midnight silence,
were it not that the shrill voice of the pi-pi-
yo every now and then resounded from a dis-
tant tree. 1 was sitting with a Horace in my
hand, when a negro and his little dog came
down the hill in luiste, and I was soon in-