244 BELIEFS AND USAGES OF CHICKASAW [ETH. ANN. 44 
their middle. All the American Indians are much addicted to this game, which 
to us appears to be a task of stupid drudgery; it seems, however, to be of early 
origin, when their forefathers used diversions as simple as their manners. The 
hurling stones they use at present were time immemorial rubbed smooth on 
the rocks, and with prodigious labour; they are kept with the strictest religious 
care, from one generation to another and are exempted from being buried with 
the dead. They belong to the town where they are used and are carefully 
preserved.” 
Akabatle was the name of a game in which the men and women 
opposed each other. There was a goal on each side made of posts 
about 3 feet tall and placed 2 feet apart. They used a ball about 
the size of a baseball which they propelled along the ground by means 
of bent sticks. They played for 12 points and the games continued 
four days, after which they had a feast. 
Towacto-coli, “ carrying the big ball,” was like the above, except 
that the ball used was larger, something like a football, and no 
sticks were used in driving it. The men kicked it and were not 
allowed to use their hands, while the women could use both hands 
and feet. As in the case of the other game, they played for 12 
points, had a feast afterwards, and sometimes followed it with a 
dance. While the game was in progress there would be a man out 
after venison, which would be cooked for the men while the women 
were served another dish. Each, however, shared his or her dish 
with members of the opposite sex. 
The game of hiding the bullet was played by men only, and not 
very often even by them. A time was set for this in advance, some- 
times during the day, but more often at night, and usually in winter. 
They built a big fire for the occasion and wagered horses, cows, 
saddles, guns, money, and all sorts of things. There were two sides 
and one from each side played in turn. One of these would take a 
bullet and try to hide it so skillfully under one of four socks or 
gloves that his opponent could not guess where it was. He passed 
his hand under all of them in the process of concealing it. The 
socks and gloves were made of wool and woven by themselves. If 
the one who was to guess found the bullet when he turned a sock 
over, he struck his breast with his hand and his side scored four; if 
he found it on the second guess they scored two. If he then failed to 
guess the location of the bullet, his opponent concealed it again and 
a second man guessed. The one who found the bullet was the one 
who hid it next. They decided in advance how many points should 
constitute a game and used counters made of slivers of cane about 
the size of a match, which passed from side to side as points were 
won or lost. If one side won all of the property from the other, they 
would give the latter a chance to recover it, and in this way they kept 
the game going all day and all night. 
47 Adair, Hist. Am. Inds., pp. 401-402. 
