St. Mary's beacon., 1859-05-05

cEch party drives two poles INTO the ground.
six fct from one another, and then connects
them by 4 cross pole sixteen ieet long 5" as 70
form a Kind uf gate, .hc two gates being placed
exactly opposite 70 one 2r 5tnar. + ~ Impair
tial pli men are commissioned II watch the
accuracy 3f the measurements and they lave
subsequently tn act as 'inpires. Scarcely has
the middle line been drawn, before an eager
thrJnZ rushes from either camp 10 choose
their respective antagonists, and begiE to bet
across tie line. every one being qHite sure Of
tlic victory Of his OVEN party, a.d Offering 10
bet the most valuable article he can af,r,l
Tie prizes consist Of lorses, weapons Ian
kc:$. articles Of clothing. household uutcnsi'S,
in short, %! all imas siha'ic cha;tels, which are
brought - tie line ami placed before tie four
umpires, who have the duty Of w4tchla. the
yauaIlcs the whole nlgat through, and who,
from time u time, manifest their watchfu!nesS
bv huwlng song, to the accompaniment of
the Iu,.IAn drum. smoke pipes in houor of
the Great Spirit. that he may bring tie great
game 10 happy conclusion. The time tii.
sunSe. = passed by the PLAYERS, not cNac;iy
in Grc@lng. since every article Of q t.InC
except n small arrc:'. i mid aside. bu: II pre-
pairing and adorlirg themselves. They pat
On an cubr i,Tcd ririic with long streamer
or tail nf cl.orct! h"rse-hair attached 10 it,
round the hips in such rnanLer that the tail
may fluIter ont behind; 10 PLAYER IS allowed
20 wear shoes or rlocCaSiuS OF any kind IT,
protect his feet which ike all the rest Of his
prrS,n ar. painted in all Imaginable COloTs;
aud except the htll->tick Hscd om the occasion,
~ weapon or implement whatever must be
.atrlrd These sticks are made ui light wood
and provided NJ one cI.d with ring, large
encrch II hn!i the bali but not II allow il 10
fall thr ,ugh, Tor the bali must be tDuche,! iy
no hand.
Accus' pmcd from their childhood to manage
these STICK, these peo, ie display As: mishiug
dcxtcrl;v both IN i'n-iug the balls 10 an inn
mcuSc distance and IN catching them as ti"v
tiv through tt:e AIR. Only one bail i used IL
the game. and the possession Of this. 50 as T.
lie able 20 throw i. through the gaze of his
parry. is the object "f every ONES excrtions.
for the side winch first does this for the lrln-
drc,i;h time gains the victory and wlns tn"
l,Zes As the sun sinks behind the tree
ana their shadows fall longer and longer ~
the grass, and then vanish in the twilight. the
players advance III long lines with torches to-
wards their RESPECTIVE gates. ard dance rnnd
them singing hcwliu., drumming. and play
ing with and ra'tlinc their bail-sticks. The
women also advance IN procession to the line
F pl NcIiEs!Ndtlol' pId't tii'lnstiNe9 W. h"o IoN>
between the gales. and dance. and rock them
selves and shuttle from one foot 10 the other
N tie same spot. raISiIg e their voices nj the
same time in wild chorus, the umpirrs
sitting NJ the sam" time ON the frontier line,
erd sending up clouds nf tobacco smoke tn
propitiate the Great Spirit Ia this manner
the night passes; the songs and dances are
rrpcatt~! every half hour. and n" other rluscs
are allowed than such are necessary t. re
! new their strength for making n noise The
/ rising sun finds every one in readiness. thpn-
sand, Sometimes waiting fo- the given signal;
S.p"n a shot i fired. and then one oi tie ''inl-
I gmrtisl" standing al thr frontier lmc. iliugs
| III" AL high up INTO the air. The players IN
Stantiy rush madiy forward. aLa become min
gci tcccthcr in me Wild struggling TgasS of
human b,GicS and limbs. in which 40 iudvl-
7 ual or group can #ry !"ngcr b. distinguish
ed. The turf Is trampic,i in.p dus;--tne
crowd sways this vav aud tA.';--uow one
has the ball. brt II il ~ tnC!iat"tv torn from
/ his Erasn-the rext moment another has
/ >ratchcd H. ard il j. sceu !ivHg through tie
/ air :,warls the goa; brt it d,..S Mt reach II.
! fnr it has been arrested IL lie prucrc>s by a
watc'iful eve ami sure hand: tac >trucg." ic-
/ gins again, and II last il j. really pushed
through one of the gates. y u,omertary
pauS" follows. and then to hall j. agar.
! thrown i!.tn the C,ntr" vi the hcd. and taa
c,.!.t.St has - lie rrrscwc !. until i. IeS IaLn.
tie s..rur cuu-,e hgn!irl times; all. il j. sci
. iym shat tue end II tni< rlu sh exciting ctn.g
j. ANNOUNCED before >uu>vt.