430 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
ing of willows, which is overlaid with grass, leaving only a hole large enough for the hand. 
A stick is then laid over this lid or covering, directly over the hole for the hand, to which 
the meat or bait is tied. ‘The man descends into the hole, covers it up with the lid, and 
patiently awaits the approach of the eagle. The eagle, soaring above, sees the bait, and 
then gradually approaches in circles, and when within a few feet darts down and fastens 
its claws into the meat, and at the same moment the hunter grasps the bird by the legs, 
thrusts his knife upwards into its body, and opening the cover draws it im. In this way, 
during a week or ten days of constant watching, two or three birds are secured, and this 
is considered a good hunt, though the hunter more frequently returns unsuccessful. ‘The 
risk attending these solitary hunts in dangerous places, and the rarity of the bird, causes 
the high value to be set upon the feathers, of which the twelve forming the tail are the 
only ones used in dress. Two of these tails are sold for a horse, or fifty dollars. 
In the palmy days of their national prosperity, when the population comprised six 
hundred warriors, and as many handsome women very gayly dressed, much time was 
spent in amusements of every kind. But short intervals elapsed between dances, games, 
races, and other manly and athletic exercises. One of these was Olympic in its character, 
and was thus performed. A race-course of three miles on the level prairie was laid off, 
cleared of every obstruction, and kept in order for the express purpose. Posts were 
planted to mark the initial and terminating points, and over the track the young men 
tested the elasticity of their limbs during the fine summer and autumn months, to prepare 
themselves for the hardships of their winter hunts. On the occasion when races were 
determined on by the chiefs, the young men were informed by the public crier, and every 
one who had confidence in his prowess was admitted to the lists. Each of the runners 
brought the amount of his wager, consisting of blankets, guns, and other property, and 
sometimes several judges or elderly men were appointed by the chief of the village, whose 
duty it was to arrange the bets, regulate the starting, and determine the results of the race. 
As the wagers are handed in, each is tied to or matched with one of equal value, laid 
aside, and when all have entered, the judges separate, some remaining with the property 
staked at the beginning of the race-course, and others taking their station at its terminus. 
Six pairs of runners whose bets have been matched, now start to run the three-mile 
_ course, which is to be repeated three times before it can be decided. ‘The ground is laid 
out in the form of an are describing two-thirds of a circle, the starting-point and goal 
being but a few hundred yards distant from each other, the intermediate space being filled 
up by the young and old of the whole village. The runners are entirely naked, except 
their moccasins, and their bodies are painted in various ways from head to foot. The first 
set having accomplished about half the first course, as many more are started, and this is 
continued as long as any competitors remain, until the entire track is covered with runners, 
