NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



often been described, but the Algonquins cared more for it than 

 the Iroquois. Charlevoix gave a brief account of this : 



These straws are small rushes of the thickness of a stalk of wheat 

 and two fingers in length. They take up a parcel of these in their 

 hand, which generally consists of 201, and always of an unequal 

 number. After they have well stirred them . . . they divide 

 them, with a kind of sharp bone or awl into parcels of ten; each 

 takes one at a venture, and he to whom the parcel with eleven in 

 it falls gains a certain number of points according to the agreement. 

 Charlevoix, 2 : 102 



The game of the snow snake, called ka-when'-tah by the Onon- 

 dagas and ga-wa'-sa by the Senecas, is not mentioned by any early 

 writer, and yet seems purely Iroquois in character. It is almost 

 unknown outside of the reservations. The implement is a slender 

 rod, from 5 to 7 feet long, and has an upturned head loaded with 

 lead. Figure 138 shows this part from one belonging to the writer. 

 The lead is run into grooves, and the head is blackened by the heat. 

 Originally no metal was used. The long shaft bends as it runs 

 over the ice or snow, suggesting its common name. The Seneca 

 form is flatter and thinner than the Onondaga. Figure 137 shows 

 the whole article. The game is to throw the farthest, and there 

 may be single contests or sides may be chosen. There is a notch 

 in the thinner end, in which the forefinger is placed, the implement 

 being sustained by the rest of the hand till thrown. Under favor- 

 able circumstances it may glide on snow or ice from 60 to 80 rods. 

 Figure 140, a and b, shows the small end vertically and horizontally. 

 Figure 139 is from the center, on which the maker placed a date. 

 Figure 151 is a group of young Onondagas with their snow snakes. 

 Western Indians sometimes throw unbent bows in the same way. 



Mr Morgan described another winter game which the writer has 

 not seen at Onondaga, but which old men vaguely recall there. It 

 is called da-ya-no-ia-yen-da-qua by the Senecas, or the snow boat. 

 This article was about 15 inches long and made of beech or other 

 hard wood. The form was that of a canoe, pointed at both ends 

 and slightly upturned at one. In the center was an elliptic excava- 

 tion, and a small bow might be placed over this, with bells or rattles 

 suspended. A white feather in the stern served as a flag and per- 



