804 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS [urn any. 24 
looked like a race horse. Ten entered for the halfmile stake, which was a 
gaudy piece of calico for a dress or shirt, as the case might be. At the word 
they went off like rockets, Nah-kah-yen leading handsomely, and Ish-kay-nay 
bringing up the rear, but running as clean and easy as a greyhound. Within 
400 yards of the goal she closed the gap, went by like a steam engine, and, got 
in an easy winner, 6 yards ahead of all competitors. For the quarter-mile race 
she again entered, but was ruled out by the other Indians, and their objec- 
tions were allowed, it being decided that the victor in either race should not 
enter for another. 
Nayano. New Mexico. 
Dr Washington Matthews* describes Hastseltsi, or Hastseiltsi, as 
a Navaho god of racing. His personator takes no part in the dance 
or in any act of succor. 
His function is to get up foot races; hence a good runner is selected to enact 
this character. He goes around among the assembled crowd challenging others, 
who are known to be good racers, to run with him. He does not speak. He 
approaches the person whom he wishes to challenge, dancing meanwhile, gives 
his peculiar squeaking call, which may be spelt “ooh ooh ooh’—ooh ooh’,” beck- 
ons to him, and makes the sign for racing, which is to place the two extended 
fingers together and project them rapidly forward. If he wins in the race, he 
whips his competitor across the back with his yucca scourges; if he loses, his 
competitor may do nothing to him, If the losing competitor asks him to whip 
gently, he whips violently, and yice versa; but the flagellation is neyer severe, 
for the scourges of yucca leaves are light weapons. He races thus some six or 
seyen times or until he is tired; then he disappears. Each race is only about 
200 yards. The people fear him, yet a man when challenged may refuse to race 
with him. He often resorts to jockeying tricks with his opponent, such as 
making a false start. He may enter a medicine-lodge to get up a race, but for 
no other purpose. Hastséltsi is a very particular god and likes not to touch 
anything unclean. 
CADDOAN STOCK 
Wiemra. Oklahoma. 
In The Story of Child-of-a-Dog, as related by Dr George A. 
Dorsey.” the hero is challenged to run a foot race with four brothers, 
his brothers-in-law. The starting place is a pole stuck in the ground. 
He wins the race by the aid of magic objects given him by two women, 
his wives. 
Again, in the story of The Swift-Hawks and Shadow-of-the-Sun,° 
there is a description of a foot race between the people of the east and 
the west sides of a village. The chief of the east side has a dark com- 
plexion, is called Shadow-of-the-Sun, and kills those whom he over- 
comes in the race. He is finally beaten by the last of four brothers. 
As in other stories, his body is burned by the victor and his many 
victims come out alive from the fire. 
History, whole series, y. 6, p. 25, New York, 1902. 
>The Mythology of the Wichita, p. 183, Washington, 1904, 
¢ [bid., p. 207. 
