In the Cockpit

Seated at the front with my professional host, I had an excellent view. He soon told me that in this case, a small bird had been matched with a larger one, which was often done by the Chinese. I didn't understand why, only that Polynesians were careful to match the birds in size and weight precisely.

Each bird was measured, and its height and weight recorded, prior to the fights, and it was given a number, which was stuck on its tail. I had assumed that this was so that the fights would be 'fair.'

My acquaintance was Polynesian, from one of the wild islands, and he continually made the distinction between what the two races of cockfighting specialists did.