192 THROUGH THE BRAZILIAN WILDERNESS 



absorbing amusement of the men was an extraordinary 

 game of ball. 



In our family we have always relished Oliver Herford's 

 nonsense rhymes, including the account of Willie's dis- 

 pleasure with his goat: 



"I do not like my billy goat, 

 I wish that he was dead; 

 Because he kicked me, so he did. 

 He kicked me with his head." 



Well, these Parecis Indians enthusiastically play foot- 

 ball with their heads. The game is not only native to 

 them, but I have never heard or read of its being played 

 by any other tribe or people. They use a light hollow 

 rubber ball, of their own manufacture. It is circular and 

 about eight inches in diameter. The players are divided 

 into two sides, and stationed much as in association foot- 

 ball, and the ball is placed on the ground to be put in play 

 as in football. Then a player runs forward, throws him- 

 self flat on the ground, and butts the ball toward the op- 

 posite side. This first butt, when the ball is on the ground, 

 never lifts it much and it rolls and bounds toward the 

 opponents. One or two of the latter run toward it; one 

 throws himself flat on his face and butts the ball back. 

 Usually this butt lifts it, and it flies back in a curve well 

 up in the air; and an opposite player, rushing toward it, 

 catches it on his head with such a swing of his brawny 

 neck, and such precision and address that the ball bounds 

 back through the air as a football soars after a drop-kick. 

 If the ball flies off to one side or the other it is brought 

 back, and again put in play. Often it will be sent to and 



