AN EXTRAORDINARY GAME OF BALL 185 



the absorbing amusement of the men was an extra- 

 ordinary 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 Associa- 

 tion football, and the ball is placed on the ground to be 

 put in play as in football. Then a player runs forward, 

 throws himself flat on the ground, and butts the ball 

 toward the opposite 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 fro a dozen times, 

 from head to head, until finally it rises with such a sweep 

 that it passes far over the heads of the opposite players 



