Cock-Fighting

“Two players are made to sit on the ground draw their legs up, and clasp their hands together over their shins. A stout stick is then passed through under their knees, and over their arms at the bend of the elbows, as in the cut, and there they sit trussed like a couple of fowls. Thus prepared, the two cobatants are placed face to face, their toes touching, and are left to fight it out. This they do by striving to knock each other down, each to overbalance the other without loosing his own equilibrium. Two falls out of three decide the game; if both fall it is no ‘round,’ and does not count. As the player may not unclasp his hands even when down, he is quite helpless, and must be assisted by his friends.” — Thomas Sheppard Meek

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