Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/311

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��The Snow Dart

THIS is a favorite game with the Cree Indian boys of Canada, and even the dignified warriors like to try their luck at the dart. It is a game for the snow, and may be played by two or more persons.

��SNOW SNAKE

The snow dart is a piece of broomstick and the snow snake is cut from a tree branch

The dart is 8 or lo in. long, whittled from a piece of wood about ^ in. in diameter — a piece of broomstick will prove just thing. Shape the dart as shown in drawing — the larger end bluntly pointed and the body tapering down to J^ in. at the other end. Finish it smooth with a scraper or sandpaper. For playing, a narrow groove or track about 60 ft. in length is marked out on the side of a hill or other slope. The track is then watered and allowed to freeze to make a smooth slide. At intervals along the slide make small barriers or bumpers, four being the usual number. The rule of the game forbids shoving the dart, and so it is merely placed in the groove at the top to travel down- ward under its own momentum. Of course the object is to slide the dart over all the four bumpers. If this is done four consecutive times by a person he wins the game, no matter how the score stands in points. The players may choose partners instead of playing individually, thus doubling the interest.

��The Snow Snake This game is likewise derived from the native American Indians and to the Wa- banaki tribe belongs the credit. It is played by two or more persons who skim or shoot small shafts or sticks over the hard or frozen crust of snow — similarly to the way in which stones are skipped over the water. The stick or "snake" may be thrown like the stone, bub the Wabanaki slightly crouches, with the left palm over the left knee, the stick resting on the knuckles of his hand, about i ft. from the head of the stick. The end of the shaft is held against the first and second fingers of the right hand, and is sent on its course by a quick and forcible shove of the right arm ac- companied by the forward swingof the body.

���Throwing the snow snake so that it will skip over the snow like stones thrown on the surface of water

��Short lengths of branches are sometimes used, but the sticks of the Indian boys are about 3 ft. long, tapering from about Yz in. in diameter at one end to i in. in width at the head. The sticks should be smoothly

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