340 OMAHA SOCIOLOGY. 



row bits squarely at tbe mark it wins eight arrows or perhaps ten, ac- 

 cording to previous agreement. When no arrow hits the mark squarely 

 and one touches it, that arrow wins. And if there is neither an arrow 

 thai hits the mark squarely nor one that barely touches it, then the near- 

 est arrow wins. Should there be no arrow that has gone nearly to the 

 mark, but one that has gone a little beyond it and descended, that one 

 wins. Whichever one is nearest the mark always -wins. If there are 

 two arrows equidistant from the mark which belong to opposite sides in 

 the game neither one wins ; but if the equidistant arrows are on the 

 same side both win. Sometimes they say, " Let us finish the game 

 whenever any one hits the mark squarely." Then he who thus hits the 

 mark wins all the arrows staked. 



§ 237. Shooting at a moccasin.— Hi u be kide is a boy's game. An arrow 

 is stuck in the ground and a moccasin is fastened to it. Each boy rides 

 swiftly by and shoots at the moccasin. The game resembles the pre- 

 ceding one. 



§ 23S. Ma n -inuqpe, The game of dislodging arrows, is common to the 

 Omahas, Ponkas, Iowas, Otos, and Missouris. Arrows are shot up into 

 a tree till they lodge amoug the branches ; then the players shoot up 

 and try to dislodge them. Whoever can bring down an arrow wins it. 

 There are no sides or opposing parties. Any number of boys can play. 

 The game has become obsolete among the Omahas as there are no ar- 

 rows now in use. 



§ 239. Ma n <j;i D '-bagi, Wahi-gasuug'-i<j;e (Omaha names), or Ma n -ibagi 

 (Ponka name) is a game played by an even number of boys. The tall 

 sticks of the red willow are held in the hand, and, when thrown towards 

 the ground so as to strike it at an acute angle, they glance off, and are 

 carried by the wind into the air for some distance. Whichever one can 

 throw his stick the furthest wins the game ; but nothing is staked. 



§ 240. Man'd6 gasnug'-i<j;e is a game similar to Ma n i^i n -bagi, but bows 

 are used instead of the red willow sticks and arrows are staked, there 

 being an even number of players on each side. Each bow is unstrung, 

 one end being nearly straight, the other end, which is to hit the ground, 

 being slightly curved. When snow is on the ground the bows glide 

 very far. Sometimes the bow rebounds and goes into the air, then 

 alights and glides still further. The prize for each winning bow is ar- 

 ranged before each game. If the number be two arrows for each and 

 three bows win, six arrows are forfeited by the losing side ; if four bows 

 win eight arrows are lost. If three arrows be the prize for each, when 

 two bows win, six arrows are forfeited; when three win, nine arrows; 

 and so on. 



§ 241. I n '-ti n biic>a, a boy's game among the Omahas, is played in winter. 

 It is played by two, three, or four small boys, each one having a stick, 

 not over a yard long, shaped like the figure. The stakes are necklaces 

 and ear-rings; or, if they have no stakes they agree to hit once on the 



