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 like jackstraws. 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 (d-zhtikh’-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 (nii-piig'-ti-zhuk) 
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 (dn-khu'-tik). The next player takes a small ring of twisted grass 
(d-zhuikh'-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 (u-i/-wtk)—(Lower Yukon). In winter along the lower 
Yukon 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 isspun 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 (yokh/-whik)—(St 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 
