i88 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. IV, 



furnishes favorable opportunity for certain games and amusements, 

 which opportunity is heightened by the prevalence of much religious 

 fervor on the part of many, and of a feeling of good-natured fellow- 

 ship on the part of all. While these games and amusements have no 

 direct, or at best only an indirect, connection with the ceremony 

 proper, yet the following accounts of some of the sports of children 

 are deemed worthy of reproduction in this place. All the accounts 

 are recorded as related by the Indians themselves. 



When there is a full moon the children within the camp-circle 

 gather together for various amusements. They are permitted to 

 indulge in such amusements when they have reached the age of seven 

 years, and then on until they are fourteen. Generally the older ones 

 watch over and direct the games; for they are supposed to know 

 exactly what is to be done. There may be an indefinite number of 

 players. If some of them are unruly, the crowd disperses; or if the 

 crowd gets too noisy near the old folks' tipi, or any of the Water- 

 Pouring people, they are ordered off. 



GAME OF BUFFALO MEAT. 



The children (boys and girls) sit in a row, the feet placed forward, 

 looking towards the boys and girls (any number) selected to carry 

 them to another place. The children who sit in a row sing thus: 

 "Come over this way! Come over this way!" They at the same 

 time move their feet in order to be touched by the "Carriers." 



The Carriers then start off in search of those who were singing 

 for "help." They of course pretend to be blind, and therefore, 

 naturally will instantly walk toward the singers. The singing is 

 kept up in a high pitch, the Carriers going to touch them with 

 their feet. As each singer is touched, he ceases singing, and prepares 

 to be carried off. The Carriers then pick him up with head upwards 

 or downwards and take him to a place of safety. 



When the Carrier reaches the place of safety, he unloads his 

 burden. The above course is followed until all the children are 

 carried off except one who is called the "victim." This last one 

 keeps singing, "Come over this way!" As the children are unloaded 

 they are deposited in a row, where they sit in silence. 



The minute there is but one left at the starting-place the song 

 ceases. Any of the Carriers then go for the victim ("the gift from 

 the spirit") and bring it (boy or girl) to the row of children. This 

 child, "victim," is supposed to be dead buffalo, and is laid in the 

 center of the row, on the children's legs. It is then beaten by the 

 children with their hands, while they say in their song (to them- 



