672 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS  [erH. ann. 24 
Each contestant kicks one of these balls before him, doing it so skillfully 
that his progress is scarcely delayed; indeed, the Pima declare that they can 
run faster with than without the balls—which, in a sense, is true. Perhaps 
the occurrence of the stone balls in the ruins gave rise to the idea that they 
possess magic power to “carry” the runner along, for all things pertaining 
to the Hohokam have come to have more or less supernatural significance. Two 
vouths will sometimes run long distances together, first one and then the other 
kicking the ball so that it is almost constantly in the air. The custom of using 
these balls is rapidly disappearing, as, it is to be regretted, are the other ath- 
letic games of the Pima. 
The men received thorough training in speed and endurance in running 
during their raids into the Apache country, but they had few sports that 
tended toward physical improvement except the foot races. Sometimes a 
woman ran in a contest against a man, she throwing a double ball by means of 
a long stick while he kept a kicking ball before him. But the women seldom 
ran in foot races, though their active outdoor life, engaged in the yarious tasks 
that fell to them, kept them in fit condition. However, they had an athletic 
game which corresponded in a measure to the races of the men and developed 
skill in running. This game was played as follows: 
Aldi.—Two of the swiftest runners among the women acted as leaders and 
chose alternately from the players until all were selected in two groups. Two 
goals were fixed about 400 yards apart. One side saying, ‘To the trail is 
where we can beat you,” while the other party declared, ‘To that mesquite is 
where we can beat you.” Two lines were formed”about 25 yards apart, and the 
ball was put in play by being tossed up and started toward the opponent’s goal. 
It was thrown with sticks until some one drove it beyond the goal and won the 
game.a To touch therball with the hands debarred the person from further play. 
This game was abandoned about 1885. 
Taranumare. Chihuahua, Mexico. 
Dr Carl Lumholtz describes the foot race of this tribe: ? 
Two districts or pueblos always run against each other. Sometimes there 
are many runners on each side, and the two parties show in their apparel some 
distinguishing mark; for instance, one side wears red headbands, while the 
other wears white ones. I have seen from four to twenty runners taking part on 
each side. Each party has a small ball, about 2 inches in diameter, carved with 
a knife from the root of an oak tree, which they have to toss ahead of them as 
they run. The runner who happens to be ahead is the one whose duty it is to 
toss the ball with his toes, and at each toss it may be thrown a hundred yards or 
more in advance. They are not allowed to touch the balls with their hands, but 
their friends who follow them may point out to the runner where the ball is 
lying. If the ball lodges in an awkward place, as between two rocks, or in 
the water, the runners or their friends may pick it up and place it back on the 
race course. The circuits over which the race is held are circular when the 
country allows, but generally the course is backward and forward along the 
top of the ridge, the group of spectators and bettors being at the starting- 
point, which is always at the middle of the race-track. Each party chooses a 
manager to represent the runners and to arrange the day and place of the race. 
«The stick in the collection is of willow, 1.230 m. long, with a maximum diameter of 
18 mm. The balls are in pairs, 15 em. apart, connected by a 4.strand, 2-ply leather 
thong, the balls being mere knotty enlargements of the thong. 
*>Tarahumari Life and Customs. Scribner’s Magazine, v. 16, p. 304, New York, 1894. 
