The Kite Runner...#2

In the book the Kite Runner, primarily on in chapter 3, on pages 20-21, Baba took the author, Khaled Hosseini, to a Buzkashi tournament. This tournament takes place on the first day of spring, new years day. Buzkashi was and still is Afganistans national passion. This spot involves a chapandaz, or rather a highly trained and skilled horse man whom is sough t after by rich men called africonados. The purpose of port is for the chapandaz to grab an animal carcass from the bowls of a melee, and drop in a circle for a goal, while a seperate team of other chapandaz chase him down. Both teams travel in full gallop around the stadium seeking out each other. They must do everything in their power to grab the carcass, even kick, claw and punch their way to victory. "The earth trembled with the clatter of hooves. We watched from the upper bleachers as riders pounded past us at full gallop..." page 21. Later on the page 21 Khaled, the author, turns away for only a moment but when he looks back to the playing field a rider falls. "I watched with horror as one of the chapandaz's fell off his saddle and was trampled under a score of hooves." page 21. His body was thrown into the air and he laid motionless on the ground like a "rag doll." He was crushed, and only twiched once, as his leges were in un-natural ways. "I began to cry. I cried all the way back home." page 21.