112 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. lYi 



native legend. It is a rod five or six feet long which is thrown through 

 the air so as to fall as far as possible from the initial point of launching, 

 the distance reached determining the measure of success attained. This 

 game was formerly much in vogue among the Carriers. It is now 

 obsolescent. 



Fig. 99. 



A great rival is nps^:;, which is played with sticks of almost the same 

 shape, (fig. 99) though much stouter near their fore-end. As [they do 

 duty on the frozen surface of the snow, the finest polish possible is 

 aimed at in their preparation. These sticks vary in length from three to 

 six or seven feet, according to the strength, possessed or assumed, of the 

 player. The Carriers are to-day passionately fond of this game, which 

 is played, as a rule, by adverse bands, the stake going over to the party 

 which first attains the fixed number of points. 



Fig. 100. 



Td'ko' is another pastime which is somewhat childish in character. In 

 most cases it is played by the fireside in the camp lodge during the long 

 winter evenings. Its necessary accompaniments are a blunt-headed stick 

 (fig. 100) and two small, thin and springy boards firmly driven in the 

 ground, one close by each player. The two opposite parties sit facing 

 each other and throw the ta'ko" against the little board on the other side, 

 upon hitting which it rebounds to the knees of the successful player, who 

 is then entitled to recommence and continue as long as luck favors him. 

 Failing to get at the mark, the ta'ko' is handed to the other partner. The 

 number of points obtained indicates the winner. The old men profess 

 to be ignorant of that game, which is probably adventitious among our 

 Indians. 



While we are treating of the games in connection wherewith success 

 depends on the skill of the performer, not on mere hazard as with nst'sa'a, 

 atlih and atiyeh, we may mention 'kei-la-pds (" encircling willow ") or 

 arrow target shooting, though the implement required for its performance 



