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Bv Stillmanlavlor 



the 

 the 



The Snow Dart 



THIS is a favorite game with the Cree 

 Indian boys of Canada, and even the 

 dignified warriors like to try their 

 luck at the dart. It is a game for the snow, 

 and may be played by two or more persons. 



SNOW SNAKE 



The snow dart is a piece of broomstick and 

 the snow snake is cut from a tree branch 



The dart is 8 or lo in. long, whittled from 

 a piece of wood about ^ in. in diameter — a 

 piece of broomstick will prove just 

 thing. Shape the dart as shown in 

 drawing — the larger end bluntly 

 pointed and the body tapering down 

 to J^ in. at the other end. Finish it 

 smooth with a scraper or sandpaper. 

 For playing, a narrow groove or 

 track about 60 ft. in length is marked 

 out on the side of a hill or other 

 slope. The track is then watered 

 and allowed to freeze to make a 

 smooth slide. At intervals along the 

 slide make small barriers or bumpers, 

 four being the usual number. The 

 rule of the game forbids shoving the 

 dart, and so it is merely placed in the 

 groove at the top to travel down- 

 ward under its own momentum. Of 

 course the object is to slide the dart 

 over all the four bumpers. If this is 

 done four consecutive times by a person 

 he wins the game, no matter how the score 

 stands in points. The players may choose 

 partners instead of playing individually, 

 thus doubling the interest. 



The Snow Snake 

 This game is likewise derived from the 

 native American Indians and to the Wa- 

 banaki tribe belongs the credit. It is 

 played by two or more persons who skim 

 or shoot small shafts or sticks over the 

 hard or frozen crust of snow — similarly to 

 the way in which stones are skipped 

 over the water. The stick or "snake" may 

 be thrown like the stone, bub the Wabanaki 

 slightly crouches, with the left palm over 

 the left knee, the stick resting on the 

 knuckles of his hand, about i ft. from the 

 head of the stick. The end of the shaft is 

 held against the first and second fingers of 

 the right hand, and is sent on its course by a 

 quick and forcible shove of the right arm ac- 

 companied by the forward swingof the body. 



Throwing the snow snake so that it will skip over 

 the snow like stones thrown on the surface of water 



Short lengths of branches are sometimes 

 used, but the sticks of the Indian boys are 

 about 3 ft. long, tapering from about Yz in. 

 in diameter at one end to i in. in width at 

 the head. The sticks should be smoothly 



