STEVENSON] GAMES 



827 



ward to keep pace with the racers, who run southward over the road 

 of the Gods of War for a distance, then around to the east, crossing 

 the river. On thej^ go toward the north, keeping to the foothills/' 

 Recrossing the river several miles west of Zufii, they continue south- 

 ward then veer round to the east and return by the southern road to 

 the base, when the members of the successful party vie with one 

 another in reaching the great plaza, for he who is first to pass around 

 the heap of wagered articles is the hero of the hour. As they run 

 around this heap, they extend their hands toward it and bringing 

 them to the mouth draw in a breath and pass on to the house of 

 the manager whence they started, where the victor deposits the stick 

 of his side in a basket of prayer meal, while all present place offer- 

 ings of bits of precious beads in the basket. The wife of the rain 

 priest takes the hands of the victor and standing brings her clasped 

 hands four times before his mouth. Each time he draws a breath. 

 The waving of the hands four times is repeated before each runner, who 

 draws as many breaths. After the prayers the victor empties the con- 

 tents of the basket, which includes the meal and bead offerings and the 

 stick, into a corn husk and carries it to his home. After each runner 

 returns to his home he drinks a quantitv of warm water as an emetic, and 

 when relieved he retires for the night. It is not unconnnon for a runner 

 to be so affected by the race that the manipulations of a masseuse (the 

 Zunis being expert in massage) are necessary to restore him. The 

 following morning the head of each runner is washed in yucca suds, 

 and he bathes. After the morning meal the stick of the elder God of 

 War and the contents of a corn husk carried by the runner from his 

 manager's house are deposited at a shrine on U'hana yiiriiiiinc {W ool 

 mountain), while the stick of the younger God of War and offerings 

 are deposited on To'wa yiiriiinne (Corn mountain). 



The most prominent religious positions do not debar men from tak- 

 ing part in these betting races. One of the fleetest as well as most 

 enthusiastic runners of the present time is the Ko'mosona (Director- 

 general) of the ki'wi*siwe. 



There are many informal games of ti'kwane in which young men 

 hurriedly gather for sport, and sometimes a considera))le stake is 

 raised. One of these races observed by the writer, in which great 

 enthusiasm was exhibited, began at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the par- 

 ties returning after 7. There were three runners on a side, of whom the 

 Ko'mosona was one. Though considerable interest is manifested in 

 the informal races, there is little or no ceremony associated with them, 

 and the excitement is as nothing compared with the more formal 

 affairs. Each runner bets on his side. Outside parties bet with one 



a There are six stone heaps which direct the runners in their course. These monuments, which 

 are about 4 feet high, are supposed to have been made by direction of the CJods of War. Va-ses 

 containing medicine of these gods arc believed to be buried beneath the mounds, though these 

 objects are too sacred to be commonly referred to. 



