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. Bâsah! Bâsah! Thou hast wetted him! Thou has drawn blood! Ah itu
dia! That is it! That is a good one! Ah sâkit-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 sôrak, 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 doing but little harm to its
opponent. One cannot but be full of pity and admiration for the brave bird, which
thus gives so marvellous an example of its pluck and endurance. At last time is
called, and the cock-fighter, who is in charge of the blinded bird, after examining
it carefully, asks for a needle and thread, and the swollen lower lid of the still
uninjured eye-ball is sewn to the piece of membrane on the bird's cheek, and its
sight is thus once more partially restored. Again time is called, and the birds
resume their contest, the cock with the injured eye repaying its adversary so
handsomely for the punishment which it had received in the previous round, that,
before the cocoa-nut shell is half full of water, its opponent has surrendered, and
has immediately been snatched up by the keeper in charge of it. The victorious