Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/413

 the North American Indians. 401

Bf education, precept, and cuftom, as well as ftrong example, they have learned to fhew an external acquiefcence in every thing that befalls them, either as to life or death. By this means, they reckon it a fcandal to the character of a Heady warrior to let his temper be ruffled by any accidents, their virtue they fay, fhould prevent it. Their conduct is equal to their belief of the power of thofe principles : previous to this fharp exercife of ball playing, notwithftanding the irreligion of the Choktah in other refpects, they will fupplicate To He Wah^ to blefs them with fuccefs. To move the deity to enable them to conquer the party they are to play againft, they mortify themfelves in a furprifing manner, and, except a fmall intermifiion, their female relations dance out of doors all the preceding night, chanting religious notes with their thrill voices, to move To He Wah to be favourable to their kindred party^ on the morrow. The men faft and wake from funfet, till the ball play is over the next day, which is about one or two o'clock in the afternoon. During the whole night, they are to forbear fleeping under the penalty of reproaches and fhamej which would fit very fharp upon them, if their party chanced to lofe the game, as it would be afcribed to that unmanly and vicious conduct. They turn out to the ball ground, in a long row, painted white, whooping, as if Pluto's prifoners were all broke loofe : when that en- thufiaftic emotion is over, the leader of the company begins a religious in vocation, by faying Tab, fhort, then To long, which the reft of the train repeat with a fhort accent, and on a low key like the leader: and thus they proceed with fuch acclamations and invocations, as have been al ready noticed, on other occafions. Each party are defirous to gain the twentieth ball, which they efteem a favourite divine gift. As it is in the time of laying by the corn, in the very heat of fummer, they ufe this fe- vere exercife, a ftranger would wonder to fee them hold it fo long at full fpeed, and under the fcorching fun, hungry alfo, and faint with the excef- five ufe of fuch (harp phyfic as the button fnake root, the want of natural reft, and of every kind of nourifhment. But their conftancy, which they gain by cuftom, and their love of virtue, as the fure means of fuccefs, enable them to perform all their exercifes, without failing in the leaft, be they ever fo fevere in the purfuit.

The warriors have another favourite game, called Chungke ; which, with propriety of language, may be called " Running hard labour." They

F f f have

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