riven into the ground. Presently the _Juara_, or cock-fighters,
appear, each carrying his bird under his left arm. They enter the
cock-pit, squat down, and begin pulling at, and shampooing the legs and
wings of their birds, in the manner which Malays believe loosen the
muscles, and get the reefs out of the cocks' limbs. Then the word is
given to start the fight, and the birds, released, fly straight at one
another, striking with their spurs, and sending feathers flying in all
directions. This lasts for perhaps three minutes, when the cocks begin
to lose their wind, and the fight is carried on as much with their beaks
as with their spurs. Each bird tries to get its head under its
opponent's wing, running forward to strike at the back of its
antagonist's head, as soon as its own emerges from under its temporary
shelter. This is varied by an occasional blow with the spurs, and the
Malays herald each stroke with loud cries of approval. _Basah! Basah!_
Thou hast wetted him! Thou has drawn blood! _Ah itu dia!_ That is it!
That is a good one! _Ah sakit-lah itu!_ Ah, that was a nasty one! And
the birds are exhorted to make fresh efforts, amid occasional bursts of
the shrill chorus of yells, called _sorak_, their backers cheering them
on, and crying to them by name.

Presently time is called, the watch being a small section of cocoa-nut
in which a hole has been bored, that is set floating on the surface of a
jar of water, until it gradually becomes filled and sinks. At the word,
each cock-fighter seizes his bird, drenches it with water, cleans out
with a feather the phlegm which has collected in its throat, and
shampoos its legs and body. Then, at the given word, the birds are again
released, and they fly at one another with renewed energy. They loose
their wind more speedily this time, and thereafter they pursue the
tactics already described, until time is again called. When some ten
rounds have been fought, and both the birds are beginning to show signs
of distress, the interest of the contest reaches its height, for the
fight is at an end if either bird raises its back feathers, in a
peculiar manner, by which cocks declare themselves to be vanquished.
Early in the tenth round the right eye-ball of one cock is broken, and,
shortly after, the left eye is bunged up, so that for the time it is
blind. Nevertheless, it refuses to throw up the sponge, and fights on
gallantly to the end of the round, taking terrible punishment, and do