Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-09-17

creased hair, would fall out, holds high
little ribbon, shake 1t, waves 1t, whirls
round and round, runs Justify few
feet, stops short, one fOOtpoised, shouts,
whoops, then falls like lead upon the
ground, many times laying there for an
hour. AT another time rolls over until
he nearly froths at the mouth, and this
is going on constantly even after the
ground is selected and staked, until the
play is announced.
Outsiders are closely watched lest
they touch or in any way NEEDLE with
the implements. If by chance they do
they are considered witched, and pro-
ceed by this same pantomimic process
to unwitch them.
-Four tribes are engaged in this play.
The Turkey Binks unite with the Six
Towns, Red Creek with the Muchal-
asha. Men and boys have painted
faces, red, yellow or white. Those with
their face half one color aud half anOth-
er look comical enough. All is put in
daubs like gay worsted tllfted work on
black ground. Coats of many colored
calicos trimmed with any and every
thing near at handg pants follow suit,
hats of every conceivable fashion since
Noah's time, trimmed with feathers
wrenched from the poor rooster and
peacock, bands Of silver and streamers
of drag braid, and no end to the beads,
any number that could be got hold of,
the neck and shoulders literally cover
ed even two and three rows deep.
Large silver ear rings are worn by
all, made mostly by the tribes, as are
all their silver ornaments bracelets,
plain bands of silver, two and three
inches wide, are worn o few inches
apart the length of the arm. No dress
was complete without the wampum
belt surmounting all, sometimes cross
ed over the shoulder like suspenders.
Drag braid for the hair, without refer
ence to color, quality or quantity, and
bits of silver plate sewn all over blanket
shawls worn their whole size. Certain
ly not for warmth as the thermometer
must have stood well up in the nine
ties, though refreshing breezes came
often, making the otherwise intolerable
heat bearable. .....t
The sticks with which they play are
made of hickory, bent at one end into a
loop with string passing lengthwise
and crossWise to prevent the ball from
going through. Two sticks to play
er, twenty four players on side. The
sticks are placed on either side the CEN
ire stake, handles out A count is Civ
en- occasionally to see if the ninety-six
sticks are there. Ii so all is ready as
the players have already been chosen
by the committee and betting has COM
menced. Articles bet are thrown upon
staging twenty feet high, made Of
rough poles, with an Indian perched
on top to take charge. One after
another in rapid succession divest them
selves of every garment, even borrow
ing to partially cover their nakednesS
that they may stake their last dime in
the world. Bundles are tossed up rap
t idly, as betting becomes sharp and the
forty eight march to the centre for theil
l sticks. Six Towns are small and slight
Machalasha more muscular and large
I built; all are stripped except covering
4 about the loins, belt around the waist
4 from which is suspended, behind, diff
: ferent animals tails, adjusted to steel
springy wires, giving the motion as il
life; these are emblematic of the prov
4 ess of the wearer, and must be earnet
$ and given by common consent-for in
!. stance. horses tail denotes strength
e fox, cunning, deer, swiftness. Afte
e picking up the sticks they fall back t
n tile plank, amidst the beating of drums
i waving of flags, and the greatest nois
d and confusion, charming the witChe
: awav, advance again to the centre il
9, one solid column, with sticks tosse
d high in air, shouting the war whooE
g which is an unearthly, diabolical SOUND
g This is termed boasting or defying thei
t, opponents. At the centre the ball
l. thrown up by the Indian in charge a
1r make rush for it, pell nell, tumblin
y one over the other, and the play is fail
e " opened. The ball must not be touch
r. ed by hand or foot, only sticks have
s. right to it. The successful one runs tC
)r his side with all possible speed, throw
1t ing it with great force towards the thrt
&c blanks. Ifit hits and falls inside of
NJ small trench, dug at right angles wit
IL the plank, 1t counts one; II IT got
er beyond this trench nothing; and if
E. masses through between the planl
,fi without touching, counts two. III
be game is twelve, and anything Is fair bl
lg touching the ball with hand or foot
ce fighting is frequent. If one gets dis
us bied his opponent must also stan
I'd aside. In every instance when owe
IN powered by want of fbreath, or by nun
Il, bers, and obliged to fall, the ball woul
IN be thrown with great accuracy, ottt
l. hitting the mark, but never found wit
o. the fallen, showing great presence
We mind. Whenever the ball approacht
al themark the crowd set up their VI
W roarious noise, and when it hits SO
Up to count, there are shouts, yells, .clal
Is ming of hands, jumping up and dow
he throWinG up of hats, firing of pistols
ar the whites and blacks foremost In 4
] this confusion. Each time the Oall
In thrown from the center with the san
It's ceremony, friends OF the players ~
It's hifher and thither with them, carryiT
ur water for their use. When the gan
OF has reached six a recess OF a few M
IS, ments me- Is taken, when water is throw
is, mon the players backs and rubbe
IS. In to this time the play has been qui
es even, The Six Towns have been beO
m en- the two last years, taking nearly e
,h erything they possessed, andsyInRatll yIIIiS l,
in Is strongly in their favor Still q
Of prevailing opinion is that they VIII
Ee beafen vet another year. AT seven 7
efs, eight and nine, when the Six Tow
til tbSow the bali thr6ughithe crack in y
ne nlank, counting two; for the twelf
We |tis | ruIeabIe to throw the ball up et az I Y
ed pl6hk, making it easy work 70 hit u
ey mnrk. when victory Is declared mtav
le- of the SiX Towns, in q game OF perha
nd two hours. Some fine playing "
1e, done, showing great strength, coolne
all and bravery, Two of the best playe
We are sons Of chief, putting 70 the Dl9s
a am thinking, some OF your base q
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