The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-27
The Indian Winter Game.

Inc boys OF the United States and
Canada are indebted to the Indians for
number of their most interesting
sports. But while many of their games
are we'll known, the Indians still have
others peculiar to themselves, and with
| which even their near neighbors are
but slightly acquainted. Throwing the
snow-snake is one OF the latter. The
"snow-snake," or ka.Whant, rs it is
called in the Onondaga dialect, is made
on the principle of tho sleigh-ruaner,
and CONSISTS of long hickory pole or
stick. with slight upward curve and
point at one end. while the other is
pravided with small notch. The under
side Is Dlade flat and smoosh, so rs to
slip easily over the snow or ice, upon
which, when skillfully thrown, it will
slide for long distance. TO make it
glide still more easily, the under surface
is waxed and rubbed with piece of
cloth until beautifully smooth and
polished. The pointed end ls furnished
with tip Of lead or solder, sometimes
of very fancy design. The length and
weight of the snow-snake varies in pro-
portion to the strength Of the person for
whose use it is intended. Those made
for young boys are not more than four
or five feet long, while for larger boys
and young men they range from six to
eight feet in length. They are made
somewhat tapering, being largest near
the curved end, where they are usually
about an inch or an inch and a quarter
IN width; while they diminish gradually
until, at the notched end, tho width is
not more than five-eighths or three. quar-
ters Of an inch. In throwing. the
ka'tOham is held at the smaller end
by the thumb and first and second fin
gers.
AT the Indian Reservation in Onon-
daga County, New York, where the
winters are long and usually severe, the
snow-snake is great favorite, and a
continuous source of amusement. AS
soon as the jingle of the bells is heard
along the frozen highway, and the run
ners OF the heavy "bobs" and wood
sleishs have furrowed the roads with
deep, polished grooves, the Indian boys
are out, following the sleigh tracks in
small parties, throwing the ka-wha,u in
the deep ruts, which it follows through
every curve, skipping over the Jumps of
ice and other inequalities, more like a
living creature than q plain hickory
stick, and suggesting at once the very
appropriate uame of the "snow.srake. j.
Although the beaten roadway is usually
preferred. the snow snake may be thrown
IN almost any situation where the SNOW
is firm.
The game, as generally played, is
merely n trial of skill between the play
ers. A line being drawn 10 mark the
starting-point, the players step back a
few PAGES. Each grnsps his snow snake,
runs forward III his turn to the mark.
and, with vigorous sweep of his arm,
sends 1t sliding and dancing over the
snow with the swiftness of al arrow.
bach snow-snake bears its owners mark
Gan arrow, cross, or starr, 80 that he
readily recognizes it, and he whose
missile is farthest in advance is declared
the winner. In this way regular
champion Is chosen. The distance that
these contrivances are thrown is almost
Incredible, skilful players sometimes
making casts of nearly quarter OF a
mile.
Should any of the readers Of ST.
NICHOLAS attempt his game, they must
not be surprised or discouraged, if, at
the first few trial, their snow-snakes
STICK their heads through the crust and
disappear in the powdery snow beneath,
instead OF sliding along the surface in
the proper way. BY digging along for
a distance of from twenty to fifty feet,
the sticks may usually be recovered,
while the slight difficulties of the art
can soon be overcome by little practice
and experience.