.MTM1OA.MTE0OTUw

189 scores a point. When he guesses correctly the bone is passed to him and he becomes the manipulater. It is said that the "Utes" use two bones and hang a string or [?] tied to it and these are rapidly shifted from one hand to the other and the opponent watches till he fancies he knows the hand hiding the masked bone. and he indicates the hand which must be at once extended and the [?] exhibited. if right he wins a point. if not he loses.

  Mr Cattin describes a game of ball played by the "Choctaw" indians. which is at this date almost entirely disappeared.   It is very similar to the Ojibway game of "La Creus." and as this is described in this chapter at another place we will here only stop to describe the stick with which it is playd.   This consists of a stick of hard wood. about thirty four inches long. the end is tapered into a flat strip and curled up to form a hoop. the end of the strip is bound to the [?] of the stick with a buckskin thong wrapped about it and is further tied by a narrow strip.   This hoop is perforated with five holes each carrying a strip of buckskin.. all carrying to the center where they are tied.   In this hoop is where the game is played.  [?] a ball made of a lump of clay or other hard matter wrapped in a piece of buckskin and tied with a thong.   The ball being a little over two inches in diameter.
   The Dakota formerly Amused themselves with horse races. and a variety of other pas times that now are forgotten from the fact that their present confined life upon the Reservation with nothing to do has made them lazy. and indolent .