Section II, 1888. [ 41 ] Trans. Eoy. Soc. Canada. 



IV. — Some hidoor and Outdoor Games of the Wahanalci Indians. 

 By Mrs. W. "W. Brown, Calais, Maine. 



(Presented by John Reade, May 23, 1888.) 



The proverbial gravity of the North American Indian does not prevent his indulging 

 in pastimes or sportive recreations ; and the less vparlike the disposition of the tribe, the 

 more diversified the games, which seem to be the necessary outlet of otherwise repressed 

 energy. Especially is this true of the Wfiban-a-chiel ; and though, for the most part, these 

 games were for the purpose of gambling — a vice certainly carried to excess among the 

 Indians, — yet the number of simple games for mere amusement were many, and engaged 

 in by old and young very energetically. 



Many of these aboriginal games are remembered only in name, or nearly forgotten 

 even by the oldest Indian. A few — perhaps, the most important — are still played ; but 

 they are being fast superseded by games introduced by civilization. 



I. 



I will first speak of those specially adapted for indoors, viz., All-tes-teg-enuk, Wy- 

 pen-og-eniik, T'wis and Ko-ko-nag'n. 



(1.) AU-1es-teg-enùk. — This is not peculiar to the Wabanaki tribes. A very similar 

 game, known iiuder A'arious names as Dish, Platter, Plumstones, Dice, etc., is mentioned 

 by several writers. It seems to have been for a long time the great gambling game, 

 played by old and young, male and female, both in public and private. Whole tribes 

 assembled and watched the progress of the game with great enthusiasm, not only for 

 hours, but for days in succession, and as the game neared the close, the excitement be- 

 came intense. Spectators as well as contestants are said to have been agitated to a state 

 bordering on frenzy. To this day it is played with great animation, with incantations 

 for good luck and exorcising of evil spirits, by. waving of hands and crying Yon-tel-eg-wa- 

 wucli. At a run of ill luck there are peculiar passes made over the dish, and a muttering 

 0Î Mic-mac-squs bk n'me hil-ook (" I know there's a Micmac squaw around") At times a 

 stranger would think a dispute between the contestants imminent, and expect bloodshed, 

 biTt there is not the slightest inclination to quarrel, and the honesty of the players is never 

 questioned. The complications possible in this game are numerous, but seem to adjust 

 themselves in the counting. All-tes-teg-enuk is played by two persons kneeling, — a folded 

 blanket between them serving as a cushion on which to strike the shallow wooden dish, 

 named wal-tah-hâ-mo'g'n. This dish contains six thin bone discs, about three-fourths 

 of an inch in diameter, carved and colored on one side and plain on the other. These are 



Sec. II, 1888. 6. 



