NELSON] GAMES 333 



the one holding the greatest number is the winner. These squared 

 splints are similar to those used for markers in the first game described. 

 Small stakes are sometimes played for in this game as in the first. 



Third game — (St Michael). The bunch of slender splints already- 

 described are also used to play a game exactly likejackstraws. The 

 player grasps the bunch of sticks between the thumb and the forefinger 

 of the right hand, resting one end upon the floor; then he suddenly 

 releases them and they fall in a small heap. The players have a small 

 wooden hook, and each in succession removes as many of the sticks as 

 he can without moving any but the one taken. Each player keeps 

 those he succeeds in removing, and the one holding the largest number 

 at the end is the winner. Both men and women play this game, but 

 usually not together. 



Fourth game {a-zhuW -ch-tak of the Unalit) — (St Michael). This 

 is played by men and women during the long twilight nights of June, 

 and is often continued during the whole night. A stake {nu-pug'-uzhulc) 

 is driven into the ground so as to project a foot or two. About this, in 

 a circle, some four yards away, sit the men and women players. One 

 of them places some small article of value at the foot of the stake for a 

 prize {an-Mu'-tik). The next player takes a small ring of twisted grass 

 {d-zhiikh' -ch-tak) about 6 inches in diameter, and tries to toss it so as to 

 encircle the stake. If he misses, the ring is passed to the next player. 

 When one encircles the stake he takes a prize and must substitute for 

 it another of about equal value, but of a different kind. In this way 

 a kind of trading is brought about, since each puts up something of 

 which he has a surplus. 



Top spinning (u4'-wuk) — (Lower Ynkon). In winter along the lower 

 Ynkon and adjacent region to the south the children of both sexes 

 gather in the kashim, and each child in succession spins its top. The 

 moment the top is spun the owner runs out through the entrance pas- 

 sage and attempts to make a complete circuit of the house and enter 

 again before the top stops spinning. A score is made every time this 

 is done successfully. 



Dart throwing {yolch' -wMh)^{^t Michael). This is played in the 

 kashim by two or more persons, usually for a prize or stake. The 

 darts are small, short, and made of wood, largest at the point and 

 tapering backward toward the butt, in which is fastened a bird quill 

 for guiding the dart in its flight. In the large end of the dart is 

 fastened a sharp spike of bone, horn, or sometimes of ivory. The 

 target is a small, upright stick of some soft wood planted in the floor. 

 This may be placed in the middle of the room and the players divided 

 into two parties, seated on opposite sides of the target, or it may be 

 placed on one side of the room and the players seated together on the 

 other. In the former case a man is appointed from each side to return 

 the darts to the throwers and to give each player a counter when a 

 point is made. Each player has. two darts which he throws one after 



