_Famous Athletic Contests, Ancient and Modern_, compiled by Members of the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Society. (Reprinted from the Best Authorities.) London: F. A. Hancock, 1871. _Great Book of Wrestling References, giving about 2000 different Prizes, from 1838 to the present day._ By Isaac Gate, Twenty-five Years Public Wrestling Judge. Carlisle: Steel Brothers, 1874. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION: Page Ancient Grecian Wrestling ix. Wrestling in Japan xii. Indian Wrestling xviii. Wrestling Match in Turkey xxi. Old English Wrestling xxiv. Wrestling in Scotland xxxviii. Irish Wrestling xlvi. CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND WRESTLING 1 MELMERBY ROUNDS 20 LANGWATHBY ROUNDS 27 JAMES FAWCETT, Nenthead 36 WILLIAM RICHARDSON, Caldbeck 43 WILLIAM LITT, Bowthorn 61 MILES AND JAMES DIXON, Grasmere 74 ROWLAND AND JOHN LONG, Ambleside 90 TOM NICHOLSON, Threlkeld 99 WILLIAM MACKERETH, Cockermouth 115 HARRY GRAHAM, Brigham 116 JAMES SCOTT, Canonbie 119 ROBERT ROWANTREE, Kingwater 126 WILLIAM DICKINSON, Alston 135 GEORGE DENNISON, Penrith 141 JAMES ROBINSON, Hackthorpe 149 THOMAS RICHARDSON, Hesket-New-Market 156 TOM TODD, Knarsdale 167 WILLIAM WILSON, Ambleside 175 JOHN WEIGHTMAN, Hayton 186 JOHN MC.LAUGHLAN, Dovenby 208 BULL BAITING 219 BADGERS AND BADGER BAITING 235 ADDENDA 244 INTRODUCTION. ANCIENT GRECIAN WRESTLING. The ancient Grecians were passionately fond of festivals and games. In every particular State such institutions were occasionally celebrated for the amusement of the people; but these were far less interesting than the four public games frequented by multitudes from all the districts of Greece. The Pythian Games were celebrated at Delphi; the Isthmian at Corinth; the Nemæan at Nemæa in Argolis; and the Olympic at Olympia, near Elis. We propose to give a brief account of the Olympic games only, as being by far the most splendid, and in which victory was reputed to be the most honourable. The celebrity of these games was extended for many centuries after the extinction of Greek freedom, and their final abolition did not occur until after they had flourished for more than eleven hundred years.