Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/183

178 leader and placed in the hands of one of his men. The opposite leader guesses which man holds the object. If he guesses wrong, the man at the end of the line in which the object is held who stands farthest from the goal runs and jumps over the upheld leg of the man at the opposite end of his own line. This moves the winning line the width of one man and the length of a jump toward the goal. If the first guess is correct, the object is passed to him and there is no jumping until a guess fails.

The boys play several simple games which develop skill in shooting the arrow or in running. In the former class may be included the following game:

The players stand in a circle while a boy runs around outside, dragging at the end of a string a bundle of rags. When the play begins each boy deposits an arrow in a heap and the one who transfixes the bundle as it flies past is entitled to the pile of arrows. At the end the best marksman may have nearly all the arrows. The same runner continues throughout the game and receives a few arrows as compensation for his services.

The name of this game signifies "cooking place." Several boys play in the game. A rag ball the size of one's fist is tossed up and the one nearest where it falls tries to throw it against another, using a slightly curved stick called henyusika. The one hit has to stand with his head down to protect his face while the others throw the ball at him. After all throw, the game begins anew.

A bundle of grass, called woliwikke, is tied with willow bark so that it is about 125 mm. long and 50 mm. in diameter. The player tosses the bundle upward with his left hand while holding the bow in his right, ready to shoot the bundle before it can strike the earth.

When the bundle is thrown forward instead of upward it is called tcomält maitcĕkĕ, "to shoot the bundle low."

The title given above signifies "prickly-pear standing opposite." There are usually four players, though sometimes two engage in this shooting game. Prickly-pear leaves are set up opposite each other at a distance of about 30 yards. The game is to pierce the