678 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



from each other, the uprights 3 to 3i/^ feet apart and with crossbars 

 placed pretty well up. Bartram speaks of but one "pillar" used for a 

 goal at each end and this was at all events the customary goal among 

 the Choctaw down to modern times. As a hit on the crossbar or the 

 posts, no matter from which side thrown, counted as a goal, the goal 

 might be thought of as actually a solid object, the space between the 

 uprights and crossbar not having been filled in. Midway of the field 

 on one side sat 2 scorers, 1 for each party. They usually played 

 for 20 points, sticking in 10 sticks in a row in succession and then 

 pulling them out. The Texas Alabama, however, made marks on oppo- 

 site sides of a long straight line, the points for one side being on one 

 side of the line and those for the opponents on the other. The balls 

 were thrown up in the middle of the field, the first by the best speaker 

 they could find, who made a few appropriate remarks before putting 

 the ball in play. After a goal was made, the ball was again put in play 

 by one of 2 old men, 1 from each side, who also acted as referees. 

 There was a man at each goal to see that the goals were made fairly 

 and 2 or more men on each side to umpire and keep order. 



Before starting play the participants threw down their sticks on 

 opposite sides of a line extending down the center of the ground so that 

 the ends of opponents' sticks would be opposite and there would be 

 assurance that the number of players on each side was the same. 

 Then each party divided up into five squads, one in the middle of the 

 groimd, one at each goal, and two half way. The rules of the game 

 allowed extreme roughness, limbs were frequently broken and lives 

 occasionally sacrificed. During the entire period of play, the doctors 

 continued their conjurations. When it was over, the victorious side 

 ran to their ball post and danced about it before leaving the ground 

 while their friends possessed themselves of the property that had been 

 wagered (Swanton, 1928, pp. 456-466). 



The game as played by the Chickasaw was practically identical 

 with the Creek game. Adair says that the goals were about 500 

 yards from each other, each made of two long limber poles, set up 3 

 yards apart but slanting outward. If the ball w^ere thrown over or 

 between these it counted a point, but if it went under it counted 

 nothing. He says that, after fasting and taking medicine all of the 

 preceding night, the players turned out next morning covered with 

 white paint. He mentions button snakeroot among the medicines 

 taken by them (Swanton, 1928 c, pp. 242-244). 



The Choctaw game seems to present some minor peculiarities. The 

 great games were between different towns or cantons, but it is im- 

 possible to determine whether the Choctaw anciently had town 

 moieties similar to those of the Creeks. It was usual for the women 

 to play after the men were through, something that seems not to have 



