DEXTEROUS SWORDMANSHIP.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 231, 6 March 1875, Page 3

DEXTEROUS SWORDMANSHIP.

At the Bombay Gymnastic Fete held not very long ago some interesting sword exercises of a kind not seen in Europe, were gone through. The swords used were long, with very thin flexible blades ; the handles were in steel glaives, and were at right angles to the blade. A lemon was placed on the ground, and the swordsman began operations by whirling himself and his sword in a most alarming manner about the arena. Having traversed every other part, be at length came to the spot where the unsuspecting lemon lay, and by sweeping the blade in one of its whirls just above the level of the ground, the lemon was sliced in two almost before any one was aware. The next thing to do was to take a lemon between the heels, fling it up in the air, and cut it in two before it fell. An outsider tried hard to do this, but failed. A student of the Gymnasium was then permitted to throw the lemon with his feet up in front of him ; and with a stroke of the long and unwieldly sword, he cut it in two at the first effort. More difficult was the exploit of cutting in two a lemon tied up in ahanderchief —without cutting the handkerchief. The handkerchief was placed on the ground, and several outsiders, as well as students, came forward to try their skill. Several cut the lemon in two but they also cut the handkerchief, and that of course constituted failure. Then a queer, half-starved, vagabond-looking fellow asked to be allowed to try. He made most respectful salaams to the company and to the handkerchief, and began a very elaborate waltz round the arena, keeping his sword at arm’s length the while, in such a way as to menace the heads of all in the front rows. In time he came to the handkerchief, and gave it a blow of the sword that sent it and the lemon flying yards away. The handkerchief was picked up whole with two halves of a lemon inside it. The victor just saw so much when he darted, sword in hand, to the prize-holders’ table and claimed his rupees. The grotesque eagerness of the poor wretch set the assembly off laughing, and the secretary had great difficulty in I making the claimant understand that there might be another competitor. A young

Parsee, who looked as if he meant business, then took up a sword, and, without wasting much time bahadooring like the others, dealt the lemon a murderous stroke that sent it and the handkerchief flying all over the place. When found, however, the lemon was only half sliced, so the poor vagabond, to his unbounded delight, was handed the prize. He salaamed to the spectators and to the sword and the lemon ; took the rupees out of the paper in which they were wrapped and counted them, then touched the handle of the lucky sword with them, and showed them round the place to everybody that would look. He was probably never th> master of so much money in his life before. A flat brazen dish filled with water was then placed on four rather small pears on the ground. By cutting the four pears in halves at a single stroke without spilling the water, a prize would have been gained. Many tried, and failed. Some cut three of the pears, but the sword not coming nicely through the fourth, the jar spilt the water, and the attempt had to be given up. When this feat is properly performed, the vessel does not move and the pears remain in their places. When they are lifted up, they are found to be sliced cleanly through the middle, without being at all disturbed outwardly.—Times of India.