SOME GAMES OF THE ZUNI. 39 



bacterial diseases. In this way I hope I may have been able to 

 show you how science prepares the way for the highest branches 

 of the art viz., 'preventive, protective, and curative medicine. 

 London Lancet. 



-*-- 



SOME GAMES OF THE ZUNI. 



By JOHN G. OWENS. 



PLAY finds its best exemplification in the Indian of the South- 

 west. Living in a mild and genial climate, naturally shiftless 

 and improvident, this true child of Nature consumes his exuberant 

 vitality by play instead of work. Step to the bank of the Zuhl 

 Kiver on one of those supreme mornings in August, which only 

 the matchless climate of New Mexico knows, and you will be- 

 hold a sight which for genuine mirth and romp will surpass 

 that of any Eastern outdoor gymnasium or children's park. The 

 river, a stream of less than ten feet, winds like a serpent through 

 a sandy bed about one hundred feet wide. This river-bed is the 

 chief playground of the Zuni child. Here boys and girls, some 

 clad, some with only ear-rings or a chance necklace, are bathing, 

 racing, wrestling, throwing sand, perchance riding some razor- 

 backed hog ; everywhere are life and merriment. I think it wor- 

 thy of note that not once during the whole summer did I see a 

 quarrel of any kind. 



This spirit of playfulness remains with the boys and charac- 

 terizes their later life. Not so with the girls. These, to the age 

 of thirteen or fourteen, are very jolly and playful, but after that 

 they begin to age ,very rapidly. This is probably the result of 

 early marriage, a custom of the tribe. Zuni seems to have no 

 class of buxom young women ; the transition is from joyous, 

 frolicsome girlhood, to sedate and sober womanhood. 



But, beside these sports of childhood, there are a few games 

 which deserve our attention. They are not limited to any age, 

 but, so far as I know, are confined to the male sex. 



Before describing these games I wish to acknowledge the kind 

 assistance of Mr. D. D. Graham, the trader a gentleman of cult- 

 ure, who has lived among the Zunis many years, and is perfectly 

 familiar with their language. Although some of these games are 

 seldom played in summer, yet through his co-operation I have 

 witnessed nearly all of them. 



Po-ke-an. This game is somewhat similar to our popular 

 game called battledoor and shuttlecock. Green corn-husks are 

 wrapped into a flat mass about two inches square, and on one side 

 are placed two feathers, upright ; then, using this as a shuttle- 

 cock and the hand for a battledoor, they try how many times 



