June 19th, 2016: Peru’s Slingshot Battle

[xoxoxoBruce]

Peru’s Chiaraje Highlands is a desolate area far from the costal populations. At 4200 meters(13,800 ft), with very
little rain, it’s not very attractive to most Peruvians or tourists. But people live there in small isolated villages, very
tough people, who gather every January 20th for the annual Slingshot Battle.

Every January 20th, the villages in Canas province, near Cusco, divide themselves into two camps and fight each
other in two consecutive battles. It takes place in the Chiaraje highland, an expanse of green and rocky pasture
between the mountains of Orccocca, Londoni and Escurrani, at 4,200 meters of altitude. Only about an hour
separates the two battles. Each side tries to push the other back into their camp, using slings and flails made from
rope and metal. And stones, sharp stones, can be found all around the rocky mountain side.

Although the media tries to highlight only the violent side, the fact is that there are also laughs and celebration.
The first thing you see as you arrive is a group of tents that make up a fair on the side of each camp. Here people
buy and sell food, beer, alcohol, and coca leaf. There are couples kissing. Whole families with children gather like it
was a picnic to watch the battle from afar. There are musicians, songs, and dancing everywhere.

It all starts with taunting. Small groups of people spontaneously start moving into the field and shout threats and
insults to the other side. Some stones begin to rain, and then more will come. More warriors start marching.
Then the horses will come with the riders screaming harangues, trying to bring order to the headless horde.
But it will be in vain.

This man died that night.

There is no central direction for each strategy. The fight varies according to the emotions of the warriors: if one
advances valiantly then others will watch him and follow, and soon the whole group will be running forward like an
avalanche. In the same way, if someone runs away in fear, that fear might be contagious and could lead to retreat
and defeat. From where I sit I can see the warriors marching. There are elders who look older than sixty, and children
who just seem to exceed fifteen years old.

It's brutal, it's dangerous, it's stupid, but it's tradition where people have little else.

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