FEATS WITH THE SWORD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 60, 30 June 1876, Page 2

FEATS WITH THE SWORD.

Tilting at the ring maybe made,'delicate ■work, .but the following trials of dexterity put it entirely in the shade. They are given by the Indian correspondent of the "Daily News" :—Three sticks, duly prepared, had been driven into the ground, and on the top of these sticks three little limes, none of thern "larger than a respect-able-sized pigeon's egg, had been placed. At a distance of 300 or 400 yards> a body of swordsmen had been collected, and these, native and English, now waited to tiy their skill. No mean trial was that to which they were invited. It was simply this : to ride 400 yards at a gallop, sword in hand, to cut the three limes in halves as they passed the sticks with a sword. The first man to advance was a trooper .of the 11th Hussars ; his name was Jones. He carried the ordinary cavalry sabre of the service. As lie came on I noticed that he leaned very much on the right stirrup, with his head lower than the pommel of the saddle. His sword-arm was free, and the weapon loosely held. As he came by.the first lemon fell in halves, the second was clipped of its rind; and the the third lime was cut in the middle with a powerful blow that shoi'/edMr. Jones to be one of the keenest swordsmen living. Three such strokes in less than seventy yards were not easy to deliver. Then there came another hussar of the same regiment, carrying a native sword, curved but sharp. To him the first and second lemon fell, but the third was untouched as he galloped by. A third Englishman came and missed all three, overthrowing, however, two of the stands as he swept on. Then a fourth rode, and rivalled the feat of Mr. Jones, cutting all three lemons with the ease of a man who was aiming at. a world rather than at such a tiny mark. In this way the trial of skill proceeded; three more Englishmen achieved the feat, but the rest had less success. Then came the native swordsmen, dashing along at a furious rate one after the other. They, too, were very successful, four of them, as against five Englishmen, clipping the limes in half. A neater feat of horsemanship-could not be imagined ; Cossacks of the Don would have shuddered to see these Sikh horsemen dash about the plain. The second trial ended no better for the natives ; the English carried off the prizes, and even Punjaubees and Sikhs shouted applause, so great was the feat' achieved by these soldiers. Races on foot came next, in which the Englishmen won' laurels again with ease, and then the entertainment ended, the trials of strength and skill were over, the Prince went away, and the company dispersed.