SOME GAMES OF THE ZUNI. 43 



national game of Zufii. Among Zuni sports it ranks as base- 

 ball does among our own. It is indulged in by almost the whole 

 male population, from boys of five or six to men of forty. Any 

 evening of the summer one can see crowds of twenty or thirty 

 boys skirting the southern hills and kicking the stick. Practiced 

 thus during eight months of the year, they have an especial occa- 

 sion when they contest for the championship, and this is one of 

 the great jubilees of the tribe. Although the women do not take 

 part, yet they show equal interest with the men and become as 

 much excited. 



The time of holding this contest is usually in the spring be- 

 tween the planting of the wheat and the corn. The Priest of the 

 Bow makes six prayer-plumes and six race-sticks. The prayer- 

 plumes consist of small sticks with the white feathers from the 

 tail of a certain species of hawk tied to one side ; the race-sticks 

 are about the size of the middle finger. The priest then takes 

 these sticks and places them on the trail toward the south, and 

 for four days they remain there untouched. At the end of this 

 time he, and any others who wish to join in the race, will run out 

 to where the sticks have been placed, and as they arrive they 

 breathe on their hands and then kick the sticks home, making a 

 circle of two or three miles. 



Four days later a representative of each clan, each with a 

 picture of his clan painted on his back, will run out in much the 

 same manner. By this time most of the people have returned 

 from their wheat-planting and the ti-kwa-iue is in order. At 

 present there are six estufas in Zuni Ha-e-que, Ha-cher-per-que , 

 Choo-per-que, Moo-ha-que, O-ha-que, and Uts-ann-que. The con- 

 test lies between the members of these different estufas, and not 

 between the members of the different clans or parts of the pueblo, 

 as has been stated by some writers. 



Whatever estufas wish to contest select their men. When the 

 men have been selected it is announced in the evening from the 

 house-tops. This generally takes place three or four days prior to 

 the race. This race is generally held at Zuni, but may be held at 

 one of the farming pueblos, as Pescado, Ojo Caliente, or Nutria ; 

 in any case it is estufa against estufa. On the evening of the 

 day before the race each side sends for a Priest of the Bow. 

 Upon arrival he puts into the mouth of each one a piece of glass 

 about one inch long ; and with some sacred meal, taken from his 

 pouch, he paints a mask on each one's face, then blesses them, 

 and they repair to the hills three or four miles distant. They 

 depart in absolute silence. Not a word may they speak unless 

 they hear or frighten some wild animal in front of them. If the 

 sound comes from behind, it is considered an ill omen. Having 

 reached the hills, they dig a hole about the length of the arm 



