INDIAN GAMES. 91 



says that the game played by these Indians was "Baggati- 

 way, called by the Canadians lejeu de la Crosse." 3 



Parkman* concludes a vivid description of the surprise 

 and massacre of the garrison at Michilimackinac, based 

 upon authentic facts, as follows: "Rushing and striking, 

 tripping their adversaries, or hurling them to the ground, 

 they pursued the animating contest amid the laughter and 

 applause of the spectators. Suddenly, from the midst of 

 the multitude, the ball soared into the air and, descending 

 in a wide curve, fell near the pickets of the fort. This 

 was no chance stroke. It was part of a preconcerted 

 scheme to insure the surprise and destruction of the gar- 

 rison. As if in pursuit of the ball, the players turned 

 and came rushing, a maddened and tumultuous throng, 

 towards the gate. In a moment they had reached it. The 

 amazed English had no time to think or act. The shrill 

 cries of the ball-players were changed to the ferocious 

 war-whoop. The warriors snatched from the squaws the 

 hatchets which the latter, with this design, had concealed 

 beneath their blankets. Some of the Indians assailed the 

 spectators without, while others rushed into the fort, and 

 all was carnage and confusion." 



Thus we see that the favorite game of ball of the North 

 American Indians, known to-day, as it was in 1636, by the 

 name of " lacrosse," was potent among them as a reme- 

 dial exercise or superstitious rite to cure diseases and 

 avert disaster ; that it formed part of stately ceremonials 

 which were intended to entertain and amuse distinguished 

 guests ; and that it was made use of as a stratagem of war, 



Travels and Adventures in Canada, etc., by Alexander Henry, New York, 1809, 

 p. 78; Travels through the Interior parts of North America, by Jonathan Carver 

 London, 1778, p. 19. The Book of the Indians, by Samuel G. Drake, Boston, 1841, 

 Book V, Ch. Ill, p. 52. 



The Conspiracy of Pontiac, by Francis Parkman, Boston, 1870. Vol. i, p. 339. 



