652 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS  [ern. ann. 24 
Cree. Muskowpetung reserve, Qu’appelle, Assiniboia. (Cat. no. 
61992, Field Columbian Museum. ) 
Two oblong balls covered with deerskin, connected by a strip of the 
same material (figure 855) ; total length, 24 inches. 
They were collected by Mr J. A. Mitchell, who describes the game 
under the name of puseekowwahnuk, kicking game: 
The name of kicking game seems to be a misnomer, as the game is in no way 
played with the feet. The game is played by women only, any number, but not 
by the old women, as great powers of endurance are required. 
It is in many respects similar to lacrosse. The players are 
given various stations in the field and carry sticks. The goals 
are usually 1 mile or thereabout apart. 
Players gather in a circle at the beginning and the double 
ball is thrown aloft from the stick of one of the leaders, when 
the scrimmage Commences and is kept up until one side passes 
the ball through its opponent’s goal. 
The game is a very interesting one and develops much skill. 
It is, from a hygienic point of view, highly beneficial, as it 
develops a fine, robust class of women. As with all other In- 
dian games, this game is invariably played for stakes of some 
kind. 
[—— 
Fig. 855. Fig. 857. 
Fic. 855. Double ball; length, 24 inches; Cree Indians, Assiniboia; cat. no. 61992, Field Colum- 
bian Museum. 
FIG. 856. Double ball; length, 10 inches; Cree Indians, Wind River reservation, Wyoming; cat. 
no. 37030, Free Museum of Science and Art, University of Pennsylvania, 
Fia.857, Sticks for double ball; length, 31 inches; Cree Indians, Wind River reservation, Wyo- 
ming; cat. no. 37030, Free Museum of Science and Art, University of Pennsylvania. 
Wind River reservation, Wyoming. (Cat. no. 37030, Free 
Museum of Science and Art, University of Pennsylvania. ) 
Two oblong bags of buckskin (figure 856), weighted with sand, and 
attached to each other by a thong made of the same piece; length, 
10 inches. Two sticks (figure 857), peeled saplings, slightly 
curved at one end and painted yellow; length, 31 inches. 
These were collected by the writer in 1900 from an Indian of Riel’s 
band, who gave the name of the balls as wepitse and weshikanik, 
and the name of the sticks as wepitse kana tikwa. The game is said 
to be played by both men and women. The goal is placed at a dis- 
tance of 50 yards. 
