4 8 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



hunt in four days. Three evenings later, seated upon the top of 

 the pueblo, as was our wont to do, while watching the gorgeous 

 sunsets, we noticed that, in addition to the accustomed scene of 

 home-returning flocks and herds, there were many herds of Indian 

 ponies brought in and put into the corrals. This foretold a good 

 turnout for the morrow. Just at nightfall the herald again pro- 

 claimed the hunt. At noon the next day the scene in the pueblo 

 was an active one. Everywhere ponies and horses were being 

 saddled for the chase. Some few who had no ponies started ahead 

 on foot. Half an hour later we all gathered on the farther side 

 of the river, on the road to Ojo Caliente, and a picturesque crowd 

 it was indeed between three hundred and four hundred horse- 

 men dressed in calico of all colors and patterns, with all kinds of 

 head-gear, from the sombrero decorated with eagle-feathers to the 

 scarlet head-band. A few had bows and arrows, others had hoes 

 and digging-irons ; but all had two or more boomerangs, called 

 Me-a-ne simply curved sticks about eighteen inches long.* These 

 they use to kill the rabbits, being thrown from the 

 horse while in motion. A few Navajoes, who also 

 took part, added to the scene. The hunting ground 

 was about ten miles to the southwest, on the road 

 to Ojo Caliente. It is generally customary to 

 have a ti-hwa-we on the way down. So far 

 as I could see, no betting was done, but the 

 excitement at times was intense. There 

 were four racers on a side, and the 

 course was covered in very good time. 



Fig. 4. Moqui Boomerang. 



As the word was given to start, the company spread out over about 

 an acre of ground, with the racers in the center. Each horseman 

 cheered his side, and when the race was over I procured the 

 ti-hwa. When we reached the ground, already the Cacique of the 

 Sun had lighted a fire, and I was told he had put under it medi- 

 cine to make the rabbits slow. This belief in the power to thus 

 control wild animals is held by other peoples. 



" This superstition is turned to account by hunters in many 

 parts of the world for the purpose of running down game. Thus 



* Fig. 4 represents a Moqui boomerang. Those used by the Zufiis on the rabbit-hunt 

 were much the same, only not quite so well made, a stick with a less marked curve serving 

 in most cases. They were thrown as clubs, with elbow forward. 



