John Stuart Blackton, who did two long tours in
Afghanistan ('72-'76 and '89-'94) was
spurred by yesterday's discussion
of Afghan dogs to send in this memory of dog matches -- more wrestling than
fighting -- back then:
In the winter time, when there is not much goat/sheep herding to do,
Afghans from villages in a wide radius (maybe 25 miles) gather in a big
snowfield with their dogs who have been specially trained by them for this
sport.
The sport is akin to Portuguese
bull fighting (no blood) and resembles wrestling. Two big dogs
(mostly mastiff-sized, various breeds) are released in a circle of
snow surrounded by hundreds of Afghan male spectators (many of them betting).
They circle each other for a
minute or more looking for a moment of advantage. Then one dog move in fast and
tries to flip the other on his back. If both shoulders touch the snow
when a dog is on his back, the fight is won.
Like wrestling, the art in
leverage, timing and speed. If, as occasionally happens, one dog shifts
from wrestling to truly biting and drawing blood, the owners rush in and put
both hands on the flanks of their own dogs, who break off immediately.
The fight is called a draw and the next dogs come on.
No dogs die. Almost no dogs are
injured (they are too valuable). Much yelling and wagering takes place,
and by 2 in the afternoon everyone starts the long hike back to his
village -- some with their honor enhanced by the audacity of their hounds and
some with their honor diminished.
A wonderfully Afghan pastime!
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