488 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS  [nru. ann. 24 
Sometimes the square, instead of being open at the ends, as shown in the plan, 
is closed upon all sides by the banks. In the lately built or new Creek towns, 
they do not raise a mound for the foundation of their rotundas or public squares. 
The yard, however, is retained, and the public buildings occupy nearly the same 
position in respect to it. They also retain the central obelisk and the slave posts. 
W bt 
Plea 
PY ies 
wy 
eager pares 
wena 8D tae oa, 
oVR se 
heday have 
Fia. 636. Chunk yard; Muskogee Indians, Georgia; from William Bartram. 
NATCHESAN STOCK 
Natcuez. Louisiana. 
Le Page du Pratz * wrote as follows: 
The natives of Louisiana have invented but a very few diversions, and these 
perhaps serve their turn as well as a greater variety would do. The warriors 
practice a diversion which is called the game of the pole, at which two only 
play together at a time. Hach has a pole, about 8 feet long, resembling a 
Roman f, and the game consists in rolling a flat round stone, about 3 inches in 
diameter and an inch thick, with the edge somewhat sloping, and throwing the 
pole at the same time in such a manner that when the stone rests the pole may 
touch it or be near it. Both antagonists throw their poles at the same time, and 
he whose pole is nearest the stone counts 1, and has the right of rolling the stone. 
The men fatigue themselves much at this game, as they run after their poles at 
every throw; and some of them are so bewitched by it that they game away 
one piece of furniture after another. These gamesters, however, are very rare, 
and are greatly discountenanced by the rest of the people. 
« Historie de la Louisiane, vy. 3, p. 4, Paris, 1768. 
