A pair of very unusual Basque Pelota ''Xare'' rackets. made from bent cane, across which the strings are attached, approx. 57cm., 22 1/2in. long This

A pair of very unusual Basque Pelota ''Xare'' rackets. made from bent cane, across which the strings are attached, approx. 57cm., 22 1/2in. long This French game (similar to lawn tennis) is played using a simple soft racket (sare or xare meaning ''net'' in Basque). It is played only in the trinquet court over a net. It is also traditionally strong in South American countries. The ball is not exactly struck as in lawn tennis, nor is it quite caught - the effect is somewhere in between. The ball is very hard, and covered with parchment.