Indian Games and Dances with Native Songs by Alice C. (Alice Cunningham) Fletcher
page 75 of 123 (60%)
page 75 of 123 (60%)
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the bead "in hand" always does the singing, led by the Leader and singers,
who must stand at the rear of the row having the bead. If a guess is incorrect the Leader goes to the pile of counting sticks that belongs to the side which has the drum-sticks, takes a counting stick and thrusts it in the ground in front of the row opposite to the guesser; that means one lost to his side. The bead in that instance remains on the same side until it is won by the opposite side through a successful guess. In this manner the game goes on until one side or the other has won all the thirty counting sticks and become the victor in the game. IV HIDING THE DISKS INTRODUCTORY NOTE.--This game, known under a variety of names, is a favorite among the Indian tribes living on the North Pacific Coast. The disks, always of an uneven number, are made of wood and ornamented with designs composed of segments of circles with groupings of dots. Some of the markings are regarded as cabalistic, and there are men who claim to have a knowledge of spells that will bring luck to the disks they ornament and treat; such disks are considered valuable and often command a high price. All of the disks in a set that is used in this game are ornamented alike except one; this must be different from the others. It may be decorated with red, for the sun, or with a dark color almost black, for the night. This disk is frequently called the "chief," and the aim of the game is to |
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