INDIAN GAMES. 127 



The chiinge from the discoidal stone to the ring; the 

 dilierent materials of which the ring is made, whether of 

 stoue,"^ of bone,"^ of wood/''*' or of cord ;^*'^ whether wound 

 with cord^*'^ or plain ; the different lengths of the spears 

 varying from three feet^°^' to ten feet^'^* and even reaching 

 fifteen feet in length among the MojaveS ;^'^ the dilierent 

 markings of the spear^**^ and the ring ;^*'' the different wa>s 

 of preparing the ground, whether tamping Avith clay,"^^ or 

 flooring with timber,^*''' or simply removing the vegetation, ^^"^ 

 — all these minor differences are of little consequence. 

 The striking fact remains that this great number of tribes, 

 so widely separated, all played a game in which the prin- 

 cipal requirements were, that a small circular disk should 

 be rolled rapidly along a prepared surface and that pre- 

 pared wooden implements, similar to spears, should be 

 launched at the disk while in motion or just at the time 

 waien it stopped. Like lacrosse, it was made use of as 

 an opportunity for gambling, but owing to the restriction 

 of the ground on which it could be played, the number of 

 players were limited, and to that extent the interest in the 

 contests and the excitement attendant upon them were 

 proportionally reduced. 



OTHEK ATHLETIC GAMES. 



In addition to the games of lacrosse, platter or dice, 

 straws and chunkee, there were other games, some of an 

 athletic nature, some purely of chance, which observers 

 have described, some of which are mentioned only in 



»» Lewis and Clarke, Vol. I, p. 143; Catlin, Vol. I, p. 132. 



»» Kane's Wamieriiigs, p. 310. '"» Creniony, p. 302. 



>»' Whipple, Pac. li. R. Rep., Vol. Ill, p. 114. "'Kane's Waiideiirigs, p. 310. 



>M Ibid. '«♦ Tiiiiberlake, p. 77; Creaiony, p. 302. 



'»» Whipple. Pac. R. K. llep., Vol. ill, p. 114. 



'"•Ciemony, p. 302; Doinenecli, Vol. ii, p. 197; Timberlake, p. 77. 



»*" Kane's Wanderings, p. 310. "" Catlin, Vol. i, p. 132. 



"""Lewis and Clarke, Vol. i, p. 143. »" Domenech, V^ol. ii, p. 197. 



