STEVENSON] GAMES 325 



gratified and say : ' * El'lakwa, na'nakwo" (Thanks, grandfathers). After 

 walking a short distance they halt and wait again for some manifesta- 

 tion. Should the}' hear a few notes from the mockingbird, they know 

 the race will be in fav' or first of one side and then of the other, uncer- 

 tain until the end. If the bird sings much, they will meet with failure. 

 If the\' hear an owl hoot, the race will be theirs. The runners return 

 to the houses which they left and retire for the remainder of the night in 

 the large room, the family' having withdrawn to another aiiartment. 

 Sometimes a runner goes to an arroj^o and deposits oti'erings of precious 

 beads to the Gods of War; or he goes to a locality where some re- 

 nowned runner of the past was killed by an enemy and there, after otter- 

 ing food to the Gods of War with a pra^'er for success in the race, he 

 sits and eagerly listens for some sound from the deceased. After a 

 time he moves a short distance and listens again. • He then moves a 

 third time and listens, and if he hears anything from the dead he is 

 almost sure of success. If he hears the whistling of the wind, he is 

 also likely to meet with success; if he hears an owl hoot, his success 

 is assured. In this event he imitates the owl during the race, which 

 annoys the opposite side, for the}' know" the reason for the owl-like 

 cries. 



At sunrise each runner carries a corn husk containing bits of precious 

 beads and meal a distance from the village and sprinkles the offering 

 to the u'wannami pi'"lashiwanni, the lightning makers of the six 

 regions for success. 



It is the custom of the runners to exercise for the race in the early 

 morning, returning to the houses of the managers, where they eat a 

 hearty breakfast; but they must not drink coffee, as this distends the 

 stomach. After this early meal nothing is taken except a small ([iian 

 tity of Avafer bread and water. They remain at the managers' houses 

 until the hour for the race. 



By afternoon the betting and excitement have increased until every 

 available possession of the bettors is placed in the large plaza. Crowds 

 gather around the managers, who arc busy looking after the stakes. 

 Everything is wagered, from a silver button to a fine blanket. Yards 

 of calico are brought out. silver belts, and pi'ccious beads; in fact, all 

 the effects of many are staked, especially those of the old gamblers. 

 who have lost heavily perhaps in the gambling den and hope to regain 

 their fortunes. The objects are stacked in two heaps, the two man- 

 agers having charge of arranging the articles. A blanket from one 

 heap finds its counterpart in the other, and both are placed together, 

 forming the base of a third pile. Drawing in this way from the two 

 piles is continued until they are consolidated into one great heap. 

 Much of the forepart of the afternoon is consumed in this work. 

 When the managers return to their houses and announce to the run- 

 ners that the task of arranging the stakes is coniplete'd, the latter 



