SWANTON] INDIAN 'l'l!II5i:S OK llli: I,()\\i:i{ MlSSiSSIl'l'l VALF.HY 91 



lilnyci' foiisisis in m.-iiiML^ini: so IIimI tlic slmic tdiiclirs llic pule m- slojis xcry 

 lu'.ii' il. 'I'lic st'coiul tliniws liis pole tlii' iiistiinl (lie sloiic Ix'^iiis (o i-oll. The 

 (iiic wlidsc pole is nearest tlie stone scdres a jtoint and lias the rijuht to throw 

 tht> stone. 



This iranie. like many otiicrs, l)e^'ins witii lillle and often ends in the rnin 

 of one of the jilaycis. In the hejiiniiinfT they slake only some sinjile heads, 

 then eiitii-e string's. When they have htst their beads they go stealthily to 

 search for those of their wives, and sometimes lose them also. Then the game 

 becomes animated. The loser goes to (ind his garment of cloth or skin. 

 Everything is good, so that it helps to satisfy his fnry for pl.iying. If he loses 

 this sole garment he is mined as ninoh as the person who plays and loses his 

 silver, his wardrobe, and his equipage. The settlers do not like native 

 gamblers, because after this loss they go to their houses, under some false pre- 

 text, to buy another garment, which they seldom i)ay for. The people of their 

 own nation do not esteem them more than we do. IIai)pily these infatuated 

 players are rare. 



The men become very much fatigued over the game I have .just described, 

 because they run after their poles as if by running they could guide them in 

 accordance with their desires.'* 



Tie continues as follows, regarding the games of the Avomen and 

 children : 



But if the game of the men is rough and fatiguing, that of the women is 

 extremely gentle and calm, since they sit down to play and all their instruments 

 weigh scarcely an ounce. 



The pieces with which they play are three bits of cane. S to inches long, 

 split in two equal parts, and pointed at the ends. p]ach piece is distinguished 

 by the designs cut into the convex side. Three play together and each has her 

 bit. In playing they hold two of these pieces of cane on the open left hand 

 and the third in the right hand, the I'ounded side above, with which they strike 

 on the two others, taking care to touch only the ends. The three pieces fall, and 

 when two of them have the convex side u]) the one who has played scores a 

 Jtoint. If there is only one she scores nothing. After the first the two others 

 play in their turn. 



I never noticed that there was anything before these women which might 

 add interest to their game. T have even thought that they did not dare to 

 expose themselves to lose anything for fear of disturbing the peace of the 

 household. I have been a witness of what I report concerning the game of 

 these' women, but they did not see me, because when they are surprised at 

 jilay they are ashamed and conceal themselves at once, a fact which afterwards 

 caused me never to discover myself, in order not to disturb them. Besides 

 they take care to sit apart and not to utter a word, and thus they can not 

 bi> detected except by means of the small pieces of cane which make little noise. 



The youngest boys, and above all the girls, have no game to which one can 

 give a name, unless it be the ball game with which they sometimes amuse 

 themselves when the weather is good. This pclottc or ball is made of a hand- 

 ful of dry Spanish beard, which is rolled together and tied as strongly as 

 liossilde with a string. It is then covered with a piece of dressed deerskin. 

 This ball .name consists in knocking the ball back and forth with the palm of the 

 hand which they employ with considerable skill.'' 



" Du Pratz, Hist, de La Louisiane, lu, 2-4. " Ibid., 4-6. 



