Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/180

Rh ably owing to the fear of provoking Navitco, the deity who gave the gourd to man.

In common with other American Indians the Pima knew naught of "luck" or "chance." He felt himself aided or opposed by supernatural beings, whose assistance he sought by gifts of beads and other sacrifices deposited on altars in the recesses of the hills, which will be described later. A favorite place of prayer for gamblers was the ceremonial hill northeast of Casa Blanca, near the center of Pimería. The following games were played by the men:

Under the name of "ghing-skoot" this game has been described as played by the Papagos. The Pima name of the game is ki$N$ts, of the sticks ki$n$tskŭt. Four sticks are used in playing. The set collected (fig. 89) is of giant cactus wood. The sticks are not named "old man," "old woman," etc., as among the Papagos, but are designated as follows:

The players sit about 10 feet apart and put the sticks in play by striking from below with a flat stone held in the left hand. The sticks are held nearly vertical, but are inclined a little forward so that they will fall in the center of the space between the players, who rake them back with a long stick after each throw.

The count is similar to that described for the Papago game, if we substitute the Pima names for the pieces, as follows:

The counts are kept upon a rectangle marked upon the ground usually approximating 12 by 8 feet, having 10 holes or pockets, counting the corners each time, along each side. At two alternate corners are 2 quadrants called ki, "houses," of 5 holes each, not