Evening star., 1926-11-14
Rubber Ball Weighing Thirteen Pounds
Used by Mexican Indians in Odd Game

variety of pOStureS and attitudes
without preliminary practice or in
tent1on, and entirely upon the mereSt
fraction of a seconds premonition as
to what is needed to keep the sphere
in the air and free from contact with
hands or earth. The ball is as a rule
kept from such contingencies for an
almost incredible length of time--f1ve
to six minutes and even longer, by
actual timing.
The game Of "Ulama" presents an
admirable subject for either a kodak
or a moving picture camera. Unfor-
tunately, on the occasion of the
writer's visit. the matches which he
witnessed on two successive days were
played late in the afternoon while the
sky was cloudy, and they lasted until
too dark to see any longer. Snapshots
were taken. but owing to the faulty
light conditions they were not sue
cessful A moving picture film of this
game would be a rarity and sure to
arouse enthusiasm and interest
among all lovers of athletic sports
and that means at least the entire
English-speaking world.
Besides the fact that touching the
ball with ones hands counts against
the offending side. if it is permitted to
cross the goal sine another forfeit is
registered against the remiss players.
There Is no special limit to the game,
so far as could be learned-that is, as
to the number of points to be played,
although that is usually arranged be-
fore active operations commence, va
rying as may be agreed upon before
hand. Two or three hours will some
times be devoted to q single match
At all intervals all hands adjourn for
refreshments, in imitation of cricket
players, but not to drink tea!
The solid rubber spheres used in
playing this game are the product Of
great deal of care as well as labor,
and are highly valued in consequence.
I was told that they were handed
down from one set to another of Ula-
ma players, as they deteriorate very
slowly, if at all. When new one is
to be made, rubber trees, which are
found to some extent in this locality,
are tapped. the milk gathered, coagu-
lated and shaped by hand into a small
and perfectly round ball, which forms
the core, or nucleus, for the larger
one. Milk is then obtained as may be,
and the core is rolled carefully in it,
care being taken. to distribute the
liquid substance over the entire sur.
face with evenness, so that it may be
perfectly symmetrical in shape when
completed. If not absolutely spherical
and smooth, it's value in the game is
greatly depre ciated The production
Of a perfect "Ulama" ball Is more or
less work Of art. At all events. II
is task requiring much time and
labor.
1t requires several weeks Of watch.
fulness in order to complete the ball
and In the meantime it Is kept i'm.
merSed In clean water. In fact, when
not in use, I was told. it was always
placed in jar of water, and when
brought out to be used in a game
was carefully wrapped in a damn
cloth. The one purchased by the
writer, as referred to, on being cut
| into pieces for samples. was found
to be almost white throughout the
entire interior, SO great had been the
| care exercised in its production. 1t
was not solid rubber in the sense OF
having no interstices, but was more
or less porous and filled with abun
dance Of minute air cells, contributing
| essentially to it's remarkable elastic
ity.
Altogether, the game of "Uiama'
may be said to occupy a unique DO
sltlon In sports of this class-or,
rather. 1t Is In class by itself. The
enterprlsing moving picture scout, ir
search for something new and certain
to be OF great popular interest, would
find splendid subject by visiting
some remote section where the game
| Is yet played. There can be no doub,
as to the popular favor which it's ex
hibition would receive.
II is lntere sting to note, in conclu
sion. that the Indians who play this
| game are far removed from the popu
lar idea regarding the aborigines o,
the country that is entertained by toe
i many foreign peoples. They are in
| dustrious, cleanly, have comfortable
homes. even though fioorless and bull,
| of cane, palm leaves and sun-drie6
| bricks. They have we'll cultivated
little farms and are practically vege
| tarians. Fruits and vegetables form
the major portion of their diet, the
| 7taples being frijoles and tortillas (un
| 'eavened corn f1apjacks and beans)
Coffee Is almost an unknown luxury
| cinnamon tea taking it's place, while
| goat milk and cheese are favorite
| dishes. Little alcoholic LIQUOR of any
| kind is used. Fresh air, abundan,
bathing. vigorous exercise and mod
crate diet are the rule. and as a re
suit such games as "Ulama'' are
played with energy and long
EFFORT such as could not be displayed
| by many people VINO hold themselves
superior to the aborigineY