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their sticks. Some of them dismounted and started dancing. Balti stick is illustrated below. It has curved head, the curve being of Scale of six inches 

Various degrees of sharpness, according to the fancy of the player; some of the best players use a short stick with a very slightly curved head; the other differences, are that the handle is shorter (being usually 3^1/2 feet in length) thinner, and more elastic; and the head is much heavier in proposition to the handle, the head of the stick is bored right through for the handle, which is fixed by a tight fastening round the upper end of the head, thus enabling to get a grip on the handle by a slot, a couple of inches long cut in front.

Many changes have since been introduced in Polo due to the influence of Pakistani officers who were seconded for service in this area. The duration of the game is now one hour and there is an intermission of ten minutes. In olden days the play continued for hours and hours and did not conclude unless one side had scored nine goals. Now the play concludes if a side scores nine goals and if nine goals are not scored within the allotted time, then the game is decided on the number of goals scored by the two sides. Each side is composed of six players these days. Hooking of stick in certain cases is considered as foul and no player is allowed to cross in front of another. The most significant change that has been introduced is that the game now starts from the middle. A line is drawn in the centre distributing the two halves of the ground. The two teams take position on either side of the central line. The chief guest throws the ball from the raised platform on which he sits and the scramble for the for the ball follows. If a player happens to catch a flying ball, he tries to ride to the goal of the opposite party and the latter try to stop him from reaching their goal. The opposite side can throw the player from his pony in order to wrench the ball from him or to force him to throw the ball on the ground. The player tries to pass it to his companions when the player or the companion to whom the ball has been passed on is successful in reaching the goal post of his opponents, then he throws the ball in the goal posts and thus a goal is scored. Now-a-days when a goal is scored, the player of the scoring side does not dismount to pick up the ball but it is handed over to him by a bystander. The player then gallops at full speed and strikes the ball towards the goal of his opponents when he reaches the central line of the ground.