This custom prevails throughout all their tribes, and causes a great spirit of emulation among their youth, who are upon all occasions, from their childhood, trying their strength and skill in wrestling.

This enables them to protect their property, and particularly their wives, from the hands of those powerful ravishers, some of whom make almost a livelihood by taking what they please from the weaker parties without making them any return.

Indeed it is represented as an act of great generosity if they condescend to make an unequal exchange, as, in general, abuse and insult are the only return for the loss which is sustained.
"The way in which they tear the women and other property from one another, though it has the appearance of the greatest brutality, can scarcely be called fighting.

I never knew any of them receive the least hurt in these _rencontres_; the whole business consists in hauling each other about by the hair of the head; they are seldom known either to strike or kick one another.

It is not uncommon for one of them to cut off his hair and to grease his ears immediately before the contest begins.