Description
A team of Mohawk, traveling with WG Beers and the Montreal Lacrosse club were central to two extensive tours of the UK designed to fullfil two functions: 1) to sell the Canadian sport of Lacrosse–based closely on the Iroquois form of Indigenous stickball games–to the motherlandl; and 2) to see the idea of emigration to Canada to British subjects. Queen Victoria herself dubbed it a “very pretty game to watch”. As was so often the case with such visiting groups, other entrepreneurs sought to capitalise on their presence. Thus, on May 12 1876, Mr A Lloyd was “delighgted to announce” that the lacrosse players had accepted an invitation to watch the performance (he doesn’t say of what!) at the Queen’s Royal Theatre the following evening. He took care to mention that they would be in Native dress, while encouraging punters to buy their tickets before they sold out…
Bibliographic sources
Dublin Evening Mail, Fri May 12, 1876