Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17
A CHILDREN,s GAME.
Played by Both Men and Boys Among
the Zuni People.


the Zuni People.
A really new game-one that can be
played with genuine interest like the old
semes@s thing equally rare and de-
slrabie. Such a game Is tashon; that Ia, it
II new to all young folks living in civilized
countries. though 1t has been played by the
turin people from time immemoriai. Like
most OF the best games. it was never in
vented by any one person, but has gradual
iy developed. doubtless from the rudest be-
glnnings. Into Its present form. Like most
OF the best games, also, it requires only the
Simplest and most easily procured outfit.
Iasholi Is played both by children and
aGults among the Indians of New Mexico
ne game was first brought to my notice
Wnen visited the Organ mountains on a
sketching expedition several years /: 20, and
as II was something altogether new TO me-
l investigated the matter and found cut
now 1t was done. The older Indians, Twas
told. frequently become so absorbed in it
tnat they play for twenty-four hours and
more without ceasing. The equipment for
playing tasholi consists of three sticks,
forty pebbles. and some sort of a counter
tor each person playing. The sticks should
De or exactly the same size each five
inches long. two inches wide, and three
quarters OF an inch thick; they must he 40
stained or colored as to be dark on one side
ana light on the other. The forty Iebhles
are arranged in a circle of about two and a
half feet in diameter, placed at uniform
distances, except that the starting boint Is
marked by wider space
Inc counters may be flowers. or any con-
venient objects that can be easily iistin-
sGshed The players kneel or crouch
around outside Of the circle, the three
Sticks are grasped and held together near
the base. grasped between the thumb and
myers In such manner as to be pernen
dicular. They are then thrown down SO as
70 drop simultaneously on their lower ends
as near the center of the circle as possible.
Ihey VIII rebound little and probably fall
IN d1nerent directions If two turn I'M dark
and one light it counts two; two light and
one dark. three; three dark, five; three
light. ten Either a five-throw or a ten
throw entities the player to another trial
II any OF the blocks fall outside the cir
Gle the throw counts nothing, and the next
payer takes his turn. If four persons are
playing. two begin at A and play around to
r. and two begin at and play around to
A. II two are playing. they also play in
opposite directions. Each space from one
pebble to another counts as one and each
counter Is laid at the space won by the
player owning 1t, and advanced as the
game proceeds. If the mark of one player
others. or overtakes it, the latter is set
back to the Starting point If this. how
ever Is found to make the game too long
!or civilized boys and girls perhaps lack
the patience of the Zuni children-it may be
modified by setting the player back only
ten or fifteen points. Among the Indians
twice around constitutes a game, but IT
may be found desirable to limit game tn
one round.
1t only remains to say 1t is game we'll
worth playing-one in which the interest
never flags from beginning to end, but, on
the contrary, continually Increases to the
finish for player may seem to be on the
very point Of winning and then be set back.
while another, by two or three skilful
throws. for throwing the sticks requires
SKILL may Unexpectedly make his way
from far in the rear to the front