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304 HONDA THE SAMUEAL target of all eyes on this day was of course the fair lady from Higo. On the opposite side were hundreds, if not thousands, of spectators, among whom were about one hundred shaven-pated monks, priests, and students, all in monastic robes and collars, from the Buddhist monastery of the Shin sect near by. Everybody was dressed in his, and especially her, best, for the female spectators were very numerous. Black and oblique-eyed beauties, with wondrous glossy capillary architecture, and silk gowns and girdles, and gay fans, rained immense influence on the handsome young contestants. Most of the twelve players were students, young fellows of the samurai, or gentry, class, of from seventeen to twenty-two, whose eyes, hands, and nerves had been trained at fencing, wrestling, archery, and spear exercise as well as with bridle and saddle. Six players, the He'ike', wore red-lacquered helmets, while those of the other six, the Genji, were white. All had bound up their flowing sleeves tightly under the armpits, and their girdles to their loins, exactly like girls when at work, though the game in hand was no girl's play. At the signal given by two hammer taps on the clapperless bell, shaped like Columbus' egg after he had made it stand, the twelve players mounted. Another tap, and they rode into the lists and sa- luted the bride and groom, and the judges, near their prince. Another tap, and then, dividing into two files of six each, the players rode down to the end
A GAME OF POLO. 305 opposite and farthest from the wickets. The horses were now in line at the extreme end, ranged on either side of the course, each horseman holding up his saji, or spoon. This instrument was made of bamboo, five feet long, with crook, or scoop, at the end netted with cord. An American boy would at once see that it was a game of " shinny " on horseback, and would think that the saji was more like a lacrosse racket than anything else. Two old fellows now entered, each with a basket of what appeared to be red and white eggs. These were the balls. They were laid at intervals of two or three feet apart, the white balls in front of the red- helmeted players, and the red before the white hats; that is, the Genji heads were laid before the He'ike' riders, and the Heike* skulls before the Genji knights. Two rows of thirty-six balls each thus lay alongside of each line of players and extended before the leaders a distance of some yards. At the far end, whence they had entered, were two wickets of bamboo poles. The wickets stood about twenty-two feet from each other. The poles of each wicket were two feet apart, and the cord joining them was three feet from the ground. By the rules of the game each ball must go over the cord and between the wicket poles ; failing to do which, the balls falling outside were tossed back into the course. The Genji, or whites, were to scoop up and toss the red balls over, and the Helke*, or reds, vice versa. Each was to hinder the other and prevent victory if possible. At the given signal both parties rode up the lists,
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A GAME OF POLO. 305<br />
opposite and farthest from the wickets. The horses<br />
were now in line at the extreme end, ranged on<br />
either side of the course, each horseman holding<br />
up his saji, or spoon. This instrument was made<br />
of bamboo, five feet long, with crook, or scoop, at<br />
the end netted with cord. An American boy would<br />
at once see that it was a game of " shinny " on<br />
horseback, and would think that the saji was more<br />
like a lacrosse racket than anything else.<br />
Two old fellows now entered, each with a basket of<br />
what appeared to be red and white eggs. These were<br />
the balls. They were laid at intervals of two or<br />
three feet apart, the white balls in front of the red-<br />
helmeted players, and the red before the white hats;<br />
that is, the Genji heads were laid before the He'ike'<br />
riders, and the Heike* skulls before the Genji knights.<br />
Two rows of thirty-six balls each thus lay alongside<br />
of each line of players and extended before the<br />
leaders a distance of some yards. At the far end,<br />
whence they had entered, were two wickets of bamboo<br />
poles. The wickets stood about twenty-two feet<br />
from each other. The poles of each wicket were two<br />
feet apart, and the cord joining them was three feet<br />
from the ground. By the rules of the game each<br />
ball must go over the cord and between the wicket<br />
poles ; failing to do which, the balls falling outside<br />
were tossed back into the course. The Genji, or<br />
whites, were to scoop up and toss the red balls over,<br />
and the Helke*, or reds, vice versa. Each was to<br />
hinder the other and prevent victory if possible.<br />
At the given signal both parties rode up the lists,