ready. Thereupon, they pounce upon each other and are soon fast interlocked. If, after struggling for some minutes, they are too weary to come to a decision, the umpire parts them, and allows them to refresh themselves with water. They are then again set, the umpire placing them in the same position as when he parted them. The minuteness with which he reproduces their exact position, not a finger being misplaced, though he had separated them suddenly, is a measure of his skill in his art. This reproduction is effected with marvellous accuracy by the first-rate umpires. The umpire’s decision is always received without the least dissent; and to provide against his authority suffering from suspected errors of judgment, he always takes care when a bout ends in a dogfall or is otherwise uncertain or indectsive, to consult the referees; and if they disagree, the opinion of the wrestlers watching on both sides of the arena is also invited. If any doubt still remains, the matter is left to be settled after the day’s matches. The umpire’s accuracy of judgment and absolute impartiality are never called in question. When a bout is over, the victor squats on his side of the ring, while the umpire, pointing to him with his fan, pronounces his name. The defeated wrestler leaves the arena without ceremony. When the wrestlers below the first grade have had their turn, the sekitori appear in successive groups on the ring; they are aproned and, stretching out their hands, one after the other, go through certain ceremonies, the meaning of which is now forgotten. The real use of this appearance on the arena is to announce the presence of these wrestlers. The matches of the first-grade wrestlers next commence. On the tenth day, the presents which we have already mentioned are made to the victorious champions. The recipient of the bow, the highest of these rewards, generally delegates another wrestler to receive it in his stead and brandish it according to form on the ring. And this performance closes the matches.
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THE WRESTLER AND HIS RING.
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