732 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



counts a point, making twenty-ibur points for dots. Eacli of the parallel lines and 

 each end of the curved lines at tlie corners also counts a point, making sixteen 

 points for the lines, or forty points in all. The players start at the bottom, oppos- 

 ing jilayers moving in opposite directions, and with eacli throvr of the sticks the 

 thrower moves an awl forward and sticks it into the ))lanket at the dot or line to 

 which her throw carries her. The parallels on each of the four sides are called 

 "rivers," and the dots within these parallels do not count in the game. The rivers 

 at the top and bottom are "dangerous" and cau not be crossed, and when the 

 player is so unlucky as to score a throw which brings her to the edge of the river 

 (i.e., upon the first line of either of these pairs of parallels) she "falls into the 

 river" and miist lose all she has hitherto gained, and begin again at the start. In 

 the same way, when a player moving around in one direction makes a throw which 



Fig. 53. 



SET OF STAVES FOR GAME. 



Leiigtli, 8J inclies. 

 Kiowa Indians, Indian Territory. 



C'.lt. No. 162!)08(i, U.S.N.M. 



brings her awl to the jjlace occupied by the awl of her opponent coming around from 

 the other side, the said opponent is "whipped back" to the starting point and must 

 begin all over again. Thus there is a constant succession of unforeseen accidents, 

 which furni.sh endh^ss amusement to the players. 



The game is played with four sticks, each from 6 to 10 inches long, flat on one 

 side and round on the other. One of these is the trump stick, and is marked in a 

 distinctive manner in the center on both sides, and is also distinguished by having 

 a green line along the flat side, while the others have eath a red line. The KioAva 

 call the trump stick sake, "green," on account of the green stripe, while the others 

 are called (juadal, "red." There are also a number of small green sticks, about the 

 size of lead pencils, for keei>ing tally. Each player in turn takes up the four sticks 

 together in her hand and throws them down on end upon the stone in the center. 

 The number of i)oint8 depends upon the number of flat or round sides which turn 



