128 INDIAN GAMES. 



limited areas, while others, like the games above men- 

 tioned, were played by Indians scattered over a wide ter- 

 ritory and apparently having l)ut little in common. Some 

 of these games were but modified forms of those which 

 have been already described. Such, for instance, is a game 

 of ball which is described by Lafitau^^ and by Charle- 

 voix."^ This closely resembled lacrosse in its general 

 methods of play, bnt as no rackets were used, it was less 

 dangerous and less excitinjr. Goals Avere erected at each 

 end of the field, separated by live hundred paces accord- 

 ing to Lafitau. The players were divided into sides. 

 The ball was tossed into the air in the centre of the field. 

 When it came down the players of each side strove to 

 catch it. He who was successful ran in the direction of 

 the goal which he wished to reach. The players of the 

 opposide side pursued him and did what the}' could to 

 prevent him from accomplishing his ()l)ject. When it 

 was evident that the runner could gain no more ground, he 

 would pass the ball, if possible, to some i)layer upon the 

 same side and his success in accomplishing this was de- 

 pendent largely upon his skill. The game is probably 

 not so old as lacrosse, for the ball is described as being 

 larger and softer than the one used in lacrosse, thus indi- 

 cating that it belonged to the period when the stuffed 

 doer-skin ball was used in that game. 



Both Duniont and Le Page du Pratz describe this 

 game with this diflerence,"'^ that the ball, according to their 

 descriptions, was incessantly tossed in the air. Romans 

 says that this game was played among the women ; and 

 Lafitau, who describes it separately, adds that in this form 

 it was only played by girls. He also says that the Abena- 

 kis indulged in a similar game, using an inflated bladder 



I'lLafltau, Vol. II, p. 353. >'" Cliarlevoix, Vol. Ill, p. 31'.). 

 "3 Diiraout, Vol. I, p. 201; Lcl'age, Vol. I, p. 378. 



