New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-04-04
WHOLE NUMBER $50
An Indian Winter Game.

The 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-,Uhant a. it
is called in the Onondaga dialect, is
made on the principle Of the sleigh
runner, and consists of long hickory
pole or stick, with slight upward
curve and point at one end. while the
other is provided with small notch.
The under side is made fiat and smooth.
SO as to slip easily over the snow or ice.
upon which, when skillfully thrown, IL
will slide for long distance. To make
it glide still more easily, the under sur
face is waXed and rubbed with . piece
OF cloth until beautifully smooth and
polished. The pointed end is furnished
with tip of lead or solder, sometimes
Of d fancy design.
The length aud weight of the snow
snake varies in proportion to tho
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 quarter in width;
while they diminish gradually until, st
the notched end, the width is not more
than five-eighths or three-quarters Of an
inch. In throwing, the kd-,Ohant is held
at the smaller end by the thumb and
first and second fingers
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 q
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
sleighs have furrowed the roads with
deep, polished grooves, the Indian boys
are out, following the sleigh-tracks in
small parties, throwing the ka-whant in
the deep ruts, which it follows through
every curve, skipping over the Jumps OF
ice and other inequalities, more like .
living creature than plain hickory
stick, and suggesting at once the very
appropriate name Of the ''snow-snake. :"
Although the beaten roadway is usually
preferred, the snow-snake may be
thrown in almost any situation whore
the snow is firm.
The game, as generally PLAYED, Is
merely a trial of skill between the play
ers. A line being drawn to mark the
starting-point, the players step back .
few PAGES. Each grasps his snow-snake,
runs forward in his turn to the mark,
and, with vigorous sweep of his arm,
sends it sliding and dancing over the
snow with the swiftness of an arrow.
Each snow-snakc bears its owner
mark Gan arrow, cross, or starr, SO that
he readily recognizes il, and he whose
missile is farthcst in advance is declared
the winner, In this way q regular
champion is chosen The distance that
these contrivances are thrown is almost
incredible, skillful players sometimes
making casts Of nearly a quarter Of .
| mile.
Should any of the readers of st. Nich-
olos attempt this game, they must not
be surprised or discouraged If, at the
first few trials, their snow-snakes stick
their heads through the crust and dis
appear in the powdery snow beneath.
instead Of sliding along the surface in
the proper way. BY digging along for
distance Of from twenty to fifty .seet,
the sticks may usually be recovered,
while the slight difficulties of the art can
soon be overcome by little practice
and experience. De Cost Smith, IN ST..
Nicholas for March.