Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-07-17

az ours would to them; all OF which
is brought out III MI. Franklin Ad-
ans In his story indigenous Games
In Latin America In the July numb
er Of the Monthly Bulletin Of the Pan
Union, Washington, D.. G.
That the bali game is an ancient in
ztitution Il the Americas may be
gathered from the following:
indigenous 20 Americas.
1.-THE ball game is Indigenous to
the Americas. Perhaps the first sim.
ian inhabitants found true sport in
catching the cocoauts tossed from.
the tall palms-certain it is that sew
eral thousand years ago the ball
game had reached = high state Of de-
velopment In the 10 cities scattered
throughout .Yucataa. On clearing
away the matted forests envelopiny
these marvellous ruins, ball courts
were disclosed near the most sacred
temples. aad. from The elaborate
.hieroglyphics and photographs orna-
menting the walls, much was learned
Of the complicated character Of the
sport. Centuries after; the passing
Of these ancient Mayans. came the
first Spanish explorers who found
that q younger race In contiguous
territory, the Aztecs, had revived the
old pastime into a national game,
with q stone God of Sport beam
ing on every court. va sfs@ III
How They Played.
THE popularity n these early
games was that the ball, when Ia
play, was not thrown with the hand
but struck by the hip, around which
the player wore a protecting pad Of
leather. A. each end Of the court
was . great stone disk with q hole
in the center, and through this orr.
flee the ball was driven before 9
point was scored. Very naturally q
lively" ball was used, since rubber
trees dominated, the forests.
Skill and Endurance.
"Old chroniclers marvel at the
skill and endurance OF the players.
for . game was seldom won under
four hours Of constant. play. Such
iexhausting contests. with . dozen
participants in almost constant ac-
ton, were not for amateurs but pro-
fessionals. Thus, from the Aztec
word ALI. signifyiag "ball." came the
word moll0nqui, zone who plays ball
for q living"
Another Form.
Another form Of ball game Is play
ed by the Indian tribes of the Cud-
uiary River region Ia the wilds Of
Brazil. A carefully leveled field lies
in front OF the malokas, or large
communal houses, and daily, at 5
o'clock, the men returning from the
days fishing or hunting. indulge In
the sport-1ot a complicated game
like that Of the early Mexicans, but
one calling for a high degree Of skill.
as two balls are used By the players.
who drive them with the hands to-
ward their opponents. Yellow tail
feathers Of the Yapo0b bird are afixed
to the rubber balls for accuracy.
Played Ia Chill.
The Araucalian Indians Of South
can Chile play an ancient game with
wooden balls driven by wooden clubs.
In q clearing. 900 by Is yards, in.
closed by cut branches Of trees, these
Indians play chueca, which greatly
resembles ID crosse or field hockey.
The game is played from childhood
and the players acquire great skill
and the matches draw large crowds.
The game coils for great endurance
and while generally played in 2 or 3
hour periods, several days have been
known to pass before Z decision was
reached: During the play It is MOI
uausual to hear a player cry, Am !
not . real oak .ree?r Of SIS he not
9 lions leg?' after . brilliant stroke.
Such h Araucanian SLANG.
EFAE u h