cuLIN] BALL RACE: ZUNI 685 
the members of one side arrange themselves several paces apart in an irregular 
line in the course to be pursued, in such a manner that the movements of their 
leader at the point of starting can be readily seen, those of the contesting 
party posting themselves in a similar line a few feet away. The leader of 
each side places across his foot at the base of the toes a rounded stick meas- 
ured by the size of the middle finger. Just before the signal is given to pro- 
ceed a mounted priest goes ahead, sprinkling the trail with sacred meal. 
At the signal each of the two leaders kicks his stick as far in advance as 
possible, when the racer of his side who happens to be nearest its place of fall- 
ing immediately rushes for and again kicks it, his companions running ahead 
in order to be in readiness to send the stick on its further flight. This opera- 
tion is continued throughout the entire course, the racers in the rear each time 
running in advance as rapidly as possible that they may kick the stick as often 
as their companions. 
Not infrequently the first kicking of the sticks sends them flying over the 
heads of the second and even the third racers in advance, and they fall near 
each other. The excitement at this occurrence is very great, for none of the 
dozen young men spare themselves in scrambling over and pushing one another 
in order to secure the stick and send it on its course. No difficulty is experi- 
enced by a racer in recognizing the stick of his party, that belonging to one side 
having a band of red paint around the center, the other an additional, though 
narrower, stripe around both ends. 
Considering the extreme lightness of the race-stick, the distance which it is 
sent by a single kick, or rather toss, with the toes is remarkable. Very often a 
stick is raised aloft in this manner about 30 feet and falls at least a hundred 
feet from the point at which it was lifted. Nor is the distance which the stick 
is sent the only requisite of success. Sometimes a narrow, sandy trail bordered 
by weeds is to be traversed, and a careless kick will probably send the stick 
into the brush or into an arroyo, where great difficulty may be experienced in 
regaining it, since a racer is never allowed to touch a stick with his hands 
until he reaches the goal. Again, throughout the rough race-trail the char- 
acter of the land surface varies greatly, and long stretches of deep sand alter- 
nate with rocky passes, arroyos, and hills clothed with scrub timber or sage- 
brush. Indeed, smooth ground is seldom met with over the entire course of 25 
miles. 
Accompanying the participants may always be seen two or three hundred 
equestrians—those who, more than any others, are interested in the outcome of 
the race by reason of the extent of their prospective gains or losses. When 
one side follows closely in the track of its opponent, the horsemen all ride 
together; but when, by reason of accident or inferiority in speed, a party falls 
considerably in the rear, the horsemen separate to accompany their respective 
favorites. If the season is dry, the dust made by loping horses is blinding ; 
but the racers continue, apparently as unmindful of the mud-coating that accu- 
mulates on their almost nude, perspiring bodies as if they were within but a few 
steps of victory. 
On they go from the point of starting over the southern hills, thence eastward 
to Thunder Mountain, along the western base of which they proceed to the 
basaltic rocks through which the Zuni river runs. Keeping close to the mesas 
that form the northern boundary of the valley, the racers cross the river on 
their return at a point about 2 miles west of the pueblo, whence they continue 
to the western end of the southern hills first crossed. These having been 
skirted, they pass over the low, sandy corn-fields to the goal, followed by the 
yelling horsemen, who wave yards of brilliant calico as they dash forward with 
