Game of canes
Original title: Jogo das Canas
The Moorish equestrian game of canes, popular in Madeira in the time of the captain-donataries, notably at the 1555 festivities.
The game was very popular in Madeira in the time of the donataries, and Captain Simão Gonçalves da Câmara, Count of Calheta (‘small cove’), was particularly fond of it. We read on p. 202 of the ‘Longing for the Homeland’ (Saudades da Terra) that in 1555, when António Gonçalves da Câmara returned to Madeira with his second wife, Dona Margarida de Vila-Verde, a lady-in-waiting to the queen, many festivities were held here. Francisco Leomelim shone at them, being so skilled at the game of canes ‘and dodging so well that no cane touched him, not even the hooves of his horse’.
The Moorish game of canes consisted, says Pinheiro Chagas, ‘in lightly hurling, at the swift gallop of a horse accustomed to this kind of exercise, a light cane which the opponent had to avoid while at the same time hurling his own’.
The novel A Filha de Tristão das Damas, by J. Reis Gomes, contains an interesting account of the ‘game of canes’ on this island.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 01People
People mentioned · 06-
Whose return to Madeira in 1555 with his second wife was celebrated with festivities.
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Skilled player who shone at the game of canes in the 1555 festivities.
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Author of the novel 'A Filha de Tristão das Damas', which describes the game in Madeira.
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Lady of the queen and second wife of António Gonçalves da Câmara.
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Portuguese writer quoted for the description of the game.
- Simão Gonçalves da Câmara1579–1580
Captain-donatary and Count of Calheta who greatly favoured the game of canes.