333 OMAHA SOCIOLOGY. 



If the hoop turns aside as it rolls it is not so difficult to thrust a stick 

 through it. 



The stick (A) is about 4 feet long. D is the end that is thrust at the 

 hoop. BP> are the gaqa or forked ends for catching at the hoop. CC 



= > D 



C. A 



II 



FIG. 37. — The stick used in playing < x;i<i",j.itn'. 



are made of ha nasage, wcabasta nasage ika"ta", stiff hide, fastened to 

 the forked ends with stiff "weabasta," or material used for 

 soles of moccasins. These ha nasage often serve to prevent 

 the escape of the hoop from the forked ends. Sometimes 

 these ends alone catch or hook the hoop. Sometimes the 

 fig. 3 — Tbe end D is thrust through it. When both sticks catch the 

 hoop neither one wins. 



The stakes are eagle feathers, robes, blankets, arrows, earrings, neck- 

 laces, &c. 



§ 2:32. Wabaouade, the women's game of ball. — Two balls of hide are 

 filled with earth, grass, or fur, and then joined by a cord. At each end 

 of the play-ground are two "gabazu" or hills of earth, blankets. &c, 

 that are from 12 to 15 feet apart. Each pair of hills may be regarded 

 as the " home" or "base" of one of the contending parties, and it is 

 the aim of the members of each party to throw the balls between their 

 pair of hills, as that would win the game. 



Two small girls, about twelve years old, stand at each end of the 

 playground and act as uhe giuaji" for the women, as boys do for the 

 men m ^abe-gasi. 



Each player has a webaonade, a very small stick of hard or red wil- 

 low, about 5 feet long, and with this she tries to pick up the balls by 

 thrusting the end of the stick under the cord. Whoever succeeds in 

 picking them up hurls them into the air, as in playing with grace 

 hoops. The. women can throw these balls very far. Whoever catches 

 the cord on her stick in spite of the efforts of her opponents, tries to 

 throw it still further, and closer to her "home." The stakes are buf 

 falo hides, small dishes or bowls, women's necklaces, awls, &c. The 

 bases are from 300 to 400 yards apart. The corresponding men's game 

 is j^abe-gasi. 



§ 233. Ja n -fawa, titick counting, is played by any number of persons with 

 sticks made of deska or siduhi. These sticks are all placed in a heap, 

 and then the players in succession take up some of them in their hands. 

 The sticks are not counted till they have been taken up, and then he 

 who has the lowest odd number always wins. Thus, if one player had 

 five, another three, and a third only one the last must be the victor. 

 The highest uumber that any one can have is nine. If ten or more 

 sticks have been taken, those above nine do not count. With the ex- 



