CUSTOMS AND HISTORICAL NARRATIVES 



18. Games of the Alsea Indians 



i. shinny ball 



Whenever spring came unto (this) region, (and wherever) the peo- 

 ple lived on (both) sides of the river, they would customarily want to 

 have (some) fun. So the two chiefs would be the ones who would 

 begin to talk. ''We shall commence to play at that time." (Such 

 was) the talk of the chiefs of the two tribes. Whenever they desired 

 to have fun, their two chiefs would habitually first begin to talk. 

 ''On such a day will we begin to play shinny ball. We wiU first (go 

 over) to the other side for the purpose of playing shinny." (Such 

 were) the words of the two chiefs. (Then) all sorts of things would 

 be prepared. The shinny clubs would be fixed over. The days 

 would be counted. "After five days shaU come to an end, we will 

 then assemble at that time, and we will commence to play." The 

 young people (especially) were glad in their own minds. ''Soon we 

 shall begin to play shinny ball. 



Then, verily, not long (afterward) the (allotted) days came to an 

 end, (and) now all the people were going to go across in a body, all 

 the people were about to go in a body (to the place) where shinny 

 playing was to be indulged in by aU. First would come the people 

 from the other side; there the people from across would assemble. 

 Then (it was) not going to be long before the villagers, the people 

 from the other side (of the river), would arrive. At last the people 

 would assemble in a body. Then (the space between) the intended 

 goals would be measured, whereupon sticks would be put (into the 

 ground) on both sides (of the field). Then mutual betting would be 



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