774 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1>96. 



pebbles or fragments of pottt-ry, and has four openings called "doorways" at its 

 four qnartfirs. At the commencement of the game four colored splints are arranged 

 at these points: at the top (North) a yellow splint; at the left (West) a blue; at 

 thel)Ottom (South) a red, and at the right (East) a white splint. The blocks are 

 tossed ends down on a disk of sandstone placed in the middle of the circle, and the 

 counts are as follows: 



3 red sides up =10 



3 black sides up =5 



2 red and one black = 3 



2 black and one red = 2 

 A count of ten gives another throw. 

 West move around from right to left, 



When four play, the straws of the North and 

 and those of the South and East from left to 

 right. When a player's move terminates at a division of the circle occupied by an 



/jTTr^ 



Fig. 102. 



SET OF BLOCKS FOR GAME OF TA'-SHO'-LI-WE. 

 Leugth, 4g inches. 

 Zulii, Kew Mexico. 



Cat. No. 69003, U.S.N.M. 



adversary's straw, he takes it up and sends it back to the beginning. It is custom- 

 ary to make the circuit of the atones four times, beans or corn of different colors 

 being used to count the number of times a player has gone around. The colors on 

 the Avooden blocks or dice symbolize the two conditions of men : 



Red, light or wakefulness; 



Black, darkness or sleep. 



The splints have the following symbolism: 



At top, yellow, north, air. Winter; 



a-r€ij-U]i and the dice ta-mei/. For counting, each player has a horse or louche. "The 

 horse is supposed to drink at the intervals iK-tween tlie groaps of stones. One game 

 which I witnessed had loaded ride cartridges for stakes. Each player placed his 

 bet within the circle." 



