FRACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND myths' 209 



Then one of the players would lose. Sometimes only one tally stick 

 would be left. He would be hit (too often). Then in turn (the 

 other) one would lose about five times (in succession) . So again the 

 (other) one (player) would commence (to play). He would prob- 

 ably lose six times. Then the other one would (resume) agam. 

 That one would sometimes lose eight times. (Still) they two would 

 keep on playing the dice game. They two would be watched con- 

 tmually. Now again this one would begin to (play) ; he would just 

 be losing for a very long time. (At last) he took away aU the tally 

 sticks (from his opponent) . 



The dice were four in number, and each was painted. Two of them 

 (painted similarly) were spoken of as males, while, on the other hand, 

 two were spoken of as females. Now they always played the dice 

 game with four dice. And the tally sticks were always counted (by 

 some one not playing). The dice players had ten and two tally sticks. 

 The two (dice players) always spread out (m front of them) hides of 

 elk whenever they two played the dfce game. Whenever the two 

 male (dice) happened to fall with marks up (the player who threw 

 them) would be given two tally sticks. Whenever two (dice) hap- 

 pened to fall with (their. mark) turned down, he would be given two 

 tally sticks. Whenever one (die) woultl fall with face down while the 

 other one fell with face up, he would not be given any tally sticks. 

 Whenever all (the dice) fell with face up, he would be given four tally 

 sticks. And when (they) fell with face down, he would be given four 

 tally sticks. When all the tally sticks (of one player) were gone, that 

 man would lose (the game) . 



VII. WHIPPING TOP 



Now they would assemble; whereupon they would talk. "We will 

 whip tops." Then they would begin to whip the tops. The tops 

 were fixed, being made of cedar knots, because the cedar knots had 

 the property of whirling weU. For that reason aU the people made 

 them (out of cedar knots), because tops made out of (cedar knots) 

 were very good. (For that reason they used) tops made out of such 

 (material, namely) of cedar knots. Thus, then, all the people were 

 whirluig tops. They did not bet. Now here it ends. 



VIII. SPINNING TOP 



Everj'body was spinning tops. All the (grown-up) people and also 

 the children would spin tops. Whenever many people came together 

 they would all spin tops. As long as the (appomted) month (had not 

 yet) gone entirely, everybody would spin tops. Now the tops were 



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