464 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS [2#TH. ann, 24 
threaded on the wrapping string. The stick was of peculiar structure. Its gen- 
eral shape is shown in the cut. . . [figure 601]. The entire length of the 
stick was about 54 feet. It was flattened somewhat in the direction of the cross- 
pieces, and tapered slightly from the heel, a, to the point 6. Directly over the in- 
tersection of the crosspieces ¢ and d, which were upon the upper side, was a small 
crooked projection (not shown) about the length of a finger, curving over the 
part of the crosspieces on the same side as the curved heelpiece, a—e, i. e., to the 
right. The entire stick was firmly wrapped with buckskin or rawhide, and the 
crosspieces and curved attachments held in place by the same means. : 
At each village there were two or more grounds, about 60 paces long and 15 
wide, cleared and smoothed for this game. Two sticks and one hoop were 
necessary, and the players were arranged by pairs. Two players took the 
sticks, one of them having also the hoop, and started at full speed from one 
end of the ground toward the other. When about halfway across, the one 
earrying the hoop hurled it violently forward, so that it should speed along the 
ground before them; then instantly changing his stick from his left hand to 
the right, they simultaneously cast them both at the rolling hoop, in such 
way that striking flat upon the ground, they should glide along point for- 
ward and overtake it. The best throw was to catch the hoop upon one of the 
small projections over the intersections of the crosspieces. To catch it upon 
the point of the stick, upon the extremities of the crosspieces or of the curyed 
b a _ 
Fig. 601. Fig. 602. 
Fic. 601. Dart for ring game; length, about 5} feet; Pawnee Indians, Nebraska; from Dunbar. 
Fia. 602. Dartfor boys’ ring game; length, about 4 feet: Pawnee Indians, Nebraska; from Dunbar. 
heelpiece, was also a good throw. If the hoop was not caught at all, as was 
usually the case, the value of the throw was determined by its contiguity to 
certain parts of the stick, and each player was provided with a straw for meas- 
uring in such cases. The bead upon the hoop was the point from which every 
measurement was made. Sometimes spirited debates were had upon the ques- 
tion of the correct measurement, as to whose the throw should properly be. 
In such case one of the numerous spectators was called in to act as umpire. 
The yalue of each throw was reckoned by points, so many points constituting 
a game. If there were more than two players, the couples alternated in mak- 
ing throws. 
By boys this game was played with a smaller and simpler stick [figure 602], 
about 4 feet long. The aim in their game was to dart the point of the stick 
directly through the hoop and catch it upon the two prongs at the heel. 
The Hon. Charles Augustus Murray“ describes the hoop-and-dart 
game as follows: 
It is played by two competitors, each armed with a dart. on the smoothest plot 
of grass they can find. The area is about 50 yards long. They start from one 
end at full speed; one of the players has a small hoop of 6 inches diameter, 
which, as soon as théy have reached the middle of the course, he rolls on before 
them, and each then endeavors to dart his weapon through the hoop. He who 
@Travels in North America, p. 321, London, 1839. 
