Evening star., 1917-09-23

ming for sport. Footracing is the ma
tional amusement. and these Indians
spend a great deal of their time III IN
talking of and planning races. The
chiefs Of different villages meet In con-
sultation and appoint two men who are
to be managers or directors. one TOT
each of the opposing forces. for the
race is not between two men. but two
parties Much deliberation is Eeeded,
for not only must the course be marked
out, and the number OF times that
course has to be covered, but the wagers
have to be determined. Men will stake
their sheep. girdles. head bands and
blankets on the races. The managers
record the bets and take charge of the
goods thus Staked.
When the important day arrives the
people assemble in crowds. The excite
ment is great. but the managers. looking
grave and stern, keep very good order and
place their men in position. each standing
motionless in his blanket. The racers are
distinguished by a slight difference of
costume-one side wearing a white band
round the head and the other side red
band. Each party carries a small ball:
the red-banded men have a red ball and
their rivals white ball At given sig
nal the blankets fall to the ground. the
man who carries the ball throws 1t as far
as he can. and the race begins. The OBJ
tect is the ball. Each man as he reaches
is a rule of the game. that. having once
been thrown. the ball must never again
be touched by the hand. 1t must be kick
ed by the toes Of the right foot.
A 18O-Mile Amateur Foot Race.
The course. which has been carefully
marked out beforehand. must run In a
sort of rough circle, and will cover many
miles of wild country. 1t Will pass
through woods and streams, and over
hills and dales. the route being clearly
marked by white crosses cut or painted
hn lima iS f1Ir hpr
defined by the groups of women and girls
who station themselves here and there
close to the path the men will follow
These women are laden with baskets OF
food and gourds of drink which they offer
to the runners they approach. The
men will sometimes pass these Kind
friends without a glance. but often they
will pause for a moment or snatch NOR
sci as they pass, for the pace is never
fast. but long loping trot, regular as n
machine and almost as enduring.
In one circuit the course may meas
ure as much as twelve miles or more
and when the race has begun the UNI
pires seat themselves upon the ground
each with a pile of small stones in
front of him. as many as the number
of circuits agreed upon. E.ach time
the runners pass by stone is thrown
away, thus keeping count of the race,
In some instances the men cover no
less than 1s0 miles during a race.
A foot race among the Tarahumare
Indians is most picturesque scene. es-
pecially after nightfall, when the course
is lit UP by flaming torches car
ried by the eager friends of the run
ners. who steadily pursue their way
the only silent people in the excited
crowd. How in this weird fitful light
the men contrive to keep the ball in
view is a mystery. One would think
that so small an object would be lost
in the Pickering torchlight: but In
dians have wonderful eyes as well as
wonderful muscles. and somehow the
ball survives all perils and is there al
the finish.
In these races the runners receive ne
prizes, but only honor and glory and
the admiration of the women, which
no doubt fully repays them. 1t is
however, customary for those who wiz
wagers on the race to give some par
Of their winnings to the men who have
won: but this is optional.