140 Till-: .iMi:iii('.\\ Mrsi:i.\i .loriix.iL 



AmM' mass about liiui wliiU- lir entered iijx)!! a speech advisinj,^ how to ])]ny 

 the game to the satisfaction of the Thunderers. As soon as this ended 

 attendants jjassed among the warriors ami collecled the game sticks and 

 bringing them to one spot mixed them well together, afterward (piickly 

 spreading them out in two opposing rows on the grass. The jjlayers fol- 

 lowed watching, each making an eH'ort to locate his own stick in one row 

 or the other. When he had done so he knew on which side he was to play 

 and also, for by that time each warrior was standing before liis own stick, 

 just who were to i)lay with him, who against. The warriors of one side 

 marked the left cheek with a heavy stroke of vermilion for recognition in 

 the game. Each took up his stick and all seemed ready and waiting for 

 some signal. Suddenly a ball was tossed into the center of the crowd and 

 w'ith many whoops and a great rush the game was on. 



The following is the story connected with lacrosse as gained through 

 the interpreter from one of the oldest Indians of the tribe. Knowledge of 

 the legend makes clear many things about the game, such as the honored 

 position near the prizes accorded to the supernatural war club and lacrosse 

 stick belonging to the Indian gi\ing the game. 



You ask who are the Thuriderbirds. I will tell you. Yon have .■^een the black 

 clouds roll up in the spring. You have seen the rain fall liea\ily and 3'ou have seen 

 the great flashes of light that shoot from the heavens, and you have heard the rum- 

 bling noise that follows. What the Wabskuat (Paleface) says of these things I do 

 not know, but the Indian understands well that they arc made by the Thunderbirds 

 hunting. 



Far, far away in the West where tlie sun sets, there floats a great luountaiii in 

 the sky. Above the earth the rocks lie tier on tier. These cliffs are too lofty to be 

 reached by any earthly bird. Even the great war eagle cannot soar so high. But on 

 the summit of this mountain dwell the Thunderbirds. They haw control over the 

 rain and the hail. They are messengers of the Great Sun himself, and their influence 

 induced the Sun and the Morning Star to give the great war-bundle to our race. 

 They delight in fighting and great deeds. They are the mighty enemies of the 

 horned .snakes, the Misikinubik. Were it not for the Thunderers these monsters 

 would overwhelm the earth and devour mankind. When the weather is fair, then 

 watch when you travel abroad, for the snakes come out to bask in the sun, but when 

 the weather is cloudy j^ou need fear nothing, for the Tliundcrers come searching from 

 behind the clouds for their enemies, the Misikinubik. 



Now this is true and our ])eople know it well, that these Thunderers have a 

 great love for us. Often they come down to earth and are born as men. He who 

 bears a Thunderer's spirit has power to understand nature and to foretell the weather 

 and he is strong in war. But a man who has such a spirit is not like other Indians. 

 As a child his parents never i)uiiisti him for fear his spirit will he shamed and leave 

 his body. Instead thej' honor him and make for him a war club and lacrosse stick, 

 the one to protect him in time of war, the other a symbol that he is a child of the 

 Thunderers. For lacro.sse is a warlike game anil therefore the Thund(>rbirds delight 

 in it. Anyone who has a Thunderer's spirit in him must have the game })laycd at 

 least once a year. He must offer great i)rizes to the winner of his game and he must 



