Indian Games | Page 8

to the earth he tries to draw it to him with his cross." Charlevoix says,
"Their business is to strike the ball to the post of the adverse party
without letting it fall to the ground and without touching it with the
hand." Adair says, "They are not allowed to catch it with their hands."
The early writers were struck with the fact that the character of the
exercise in this game was fitted to develop the young warriors for the
war path, and they commented on the practice that they thus acquired in
rapid running and in avoiding blows from an instrument in the hands of
an adversary.
"When we review the various features of the game which its
chroniclers have thought worthy of record, we can but conclude that it
was rather a contest of grave importance to the players than a mere
pastime, nor can we fail to accept the concurrent testimony as to the
widespread territory in which it was domesticated, as additional
evidence of the extent of the intercourse which prevailed among the
native tribes of this country."
[Relocated Footnote (1): I translate apiffez, "bedecked," assuming from
the context that the author meant to write "attifez." We have, elsewhere,
accounts which show that ballplayers, even though compelled to play

with scant clothing, still covered themselves with their ornaments. J. M.
Stanley in his Portraits of North American Indians, Smithsonian
Miscellaneous Collections, Washington, 1862, Vol. II, p. 13, says that
the "Creek" ball-players first appear on the ground in costume. "During
the play they divest themselves of all their ornaments which are usually
displayed on these occasions for the purpose of betting on the result of
the play."]
[Relocated Footnote (2): The game is also mentioned in An Account of
the Remarkable Occurrences in the Life and Travels of Col. James
Smith during his Captivity with the Indians in the years 1755-1759.
Cincinnati, 1870, p. 78. It is described by Col. William L. Stone in his
Life of Brant, Albany, 1865, Vol. II, p. 448. In one game of which he
speaks, the ball was started by a young and beautiful squaw who was
elaborately dressed for the occasion. Notwithstanding the extent and
value of Col. Stone's contributions to the literature on the subject of the
North American Indians, he makes the erroneous statement that "The
Six Nations had adopted from the Whites the popular game of ball or
cricket" See p. 445, same volume, cf. The Memoir upon the late War in
North America, 1755-1760, by M. Pouchot, translated and edited by
Franklin B. Hough, Vol. II, p. 195. A game of ball is also described in
Historical Collections of Georgia, by the Rev. George White, 3d
edition, New York, 1835, p. 670, which took place in Walker County,
Georgia, between Chatooga and Chicamauga. The ball was thrown up
at the centre. The bats were described as curiously carved spoons. If the
ball touched the ground the play stopped and it was thrown up again.
Rev. J. Owen Dorsey in a paper entitled "Omaha Sociology," printed in
the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, etc, 1881-1882,
Washington, 1884 p. 230, p. 336, describes the game amongst the
Omahas.]

PLATTER OR DICE.
The second in the list of games given by Father Brebeuf is that which
he calls "platter." Writers who describe the habits of the Indians at the
north have much to say concerning this game. According to Lescarbot,

Jacques Cartier saw it played, and recorded his observations. [Footnote:
Histoire de la Nouvelle France par Marc Lescarbot, Nouvelle Edition,
Paris 1856, Vol. III, p. 734.]
Sagard Theodat [Footnote: Histoire du Canada, etc., par Gabriel Sagard
Theodat; Nouvelle Edition, Paris, 1856, Vol. I, pp. 243-244.] devotes
considerable space to it. Both Father Brebeuf, in his Relation in 1636,
and Father Lalemant, in his Relation in 1639, give long accounts of the
game, the causes for its being played, the excesses in gambling to
which it leads, and the methods which prevail in its practice. In Perrot's
[Footnote: p. 50.] work there is a good description of the game,
although not so full as his account of lacrosse, from which we have
already quoted. La Potherie and LaHontan barely mention it. Latitau
[Footnote: Mours des Sauvages Ameriquains, erc, par le P. Latitau,
Paris, 1724, Vol. II, p. 339.] in his searching analysis of the
manuscripts deposited at Quebec, while seeking for traces of his theory
that a resemblance existed between the habits of the Indians and those
of the ancient dwellers in eastern Europe, found an unusual quantity of
material bearing on this particular topic, which he has reproduced in his
book. Charlevoix [Footnote: Vol. III, pp. 260-1.], in a letter dated June
8, 1721, says, "As I was returning through a quarter of the Huron