140 INDIAN GAMES. 



played at lacrosse, seldom at platter. We have seen that 

 the women in some parts of the country joined in the la- 

 crosse games. Sometimes they played it by themselves and 

 sometimes they plaj^ed other ball games which closely re- 

 semble that game. Romans describes a woman's game 

 in which they tossed up a ball which was to be caught 

 before it reached the ground ; but in the meantime the 

 one who tossed it had to pick up a small stick from the 

 ground. 



The women of the Natchez^*''', according to Le Page du 

 Pratz, played with three pieces of cane, each eight or 

 nine inches long, flat on one side and convex on the other 

 Avith engravings on the convex side. Two were held in 

 the open palm of the left hand and the third was dropped 

 round side down upon the ends of the two, so that all 

 would fall to the ground. If two convex surfaces came 

 up the player Avon. He also says, and in this Romans 

 concurs, that the Avomeu Avere very reluctant to be seen 

 Avhile playing. 



Among the Natchez, the young girls played ball Avith 

 a deer-skin ball slutfed with Spanish moss. Other than 

 that they seemed to him to have no games.'" The young 

 Choctaws, according to Romans, engaged in Avrestling, run- 

 ning, heaving and lifting great weights and playing ball. 

 Hennepin says, " the children play Avith boAvs and Avith 

 two sticks, one large and one small. They hold the little 

 one in the left, and the larger one in the right hand, then 

 Avith the larger one they make the smaller one ^y up in 

 the air, and another runs after it, and throws it at the one 

 Avho sprang it. They also make a ball of flags or corn 

 leaves, which they throw in the air and catch on the end 

 of a pointed stick." 



"0 La Page du Pratz, Vol. in, p. 2; Domenech, Vol. ii, p. 192. 

 i«' Li^ Page du Pratz, Vol. Ill, p. 2. 



