STEVENSON] GAMES 335 



man then returns to the house of the leader of the phu'ers. The 

 other three watchers may visit whatever cardinal point they wish, but 

 they must keep together. Each one carries a corn-husk package 

 prepared by the head watcher, the leader of the part}" having- the one 

 containing the cigarette. The}' usually go about 2 miles from the 

 village, where one of the part}^ makes an excavation the depth of the 

 arm in which to deposit offerings. The}^ then pvdy to the deceased 

 i'yiinkolo'we players. The offerings are made that success will 

 follow them in the game and that the game mav bring rains and all 

 things good. The excavation is covered and the three go a short 

 distance and sit down and listen attentively. Then they move on a 

 little farther and sit and listen again. This is repeated four times, 

 each time a little farther off from the excavation. One must never 

 turn around nor look back if he hears any steps and knows that there is 

 something unusual. If he sees a star move, or sees the lightning, a 

 nu'sterious iire, or bright light on the earth, he knows his side will win 

 the game. If he hears an owl or co3'ote, he knows the other side will 

 win. If he hears a summer bird, the success will come to his side. If 

 he hears a mocking bird or snow bird, he knows there will be trouble, 

 perhaps the two sides will have a tight and one will bi> hit with the 

 ball of the game. The watchers now return to the house of the 

 leader. 



After the head watcher departs for the shrine, the leader of the 

 players hands three of his corn-husk packages to each of the other 

 three players. Then taking wafer bread with both hands from the 

 basket tray, he places it in the blanket over the left arm of each man, 

 putting the remainder of the bread in his own l)lanket over the arm. 

 He carries the sack of te'na*sali and the cigarette. The fourth corn- 

 husk package of the leader of the watchers is given one of the men 

 present by the leader of the players with the following instructions: 

 "You will go to-morrow to the house of the rat man. Give these 

 offerings to him and ask him to help you to collect the straws 

 that are to aid us to win the counters in the game." The leader 

 of the players with his three associates then visits the house of 

 the rain priest, removing their moccasins and head-kerchiefs on enter- 

 ing. They deposit the wafer bread, which they carry in their l)lunkets, 

 and the husk packages in a basket tray, which the rain priest 

 extends to them without rising from his seat on the floor in the middle 

 of the room. The leader of the players returns the sack of te'nas'sali 

 to the rain priest, who lays it in the basket. The rain priest sings 

 four songs to certain rain priests of the four regions, calling each by 

 name: "Here is your Ko'hakwa, 'Suhapa, [etc.], take these and give me 

 much rain, many seeds, all things good, give me long life that I may not 

 die, but sleep to awake in Ko'thluwala'wa." The rain priest makes no 



