Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Edited with Notes and Biographical SketchDenig, Edwin Thompson
History
Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Edited with Notes and Biographical Sketch
Denig, Edwin Thompson
Assiniboine Indians; Indians of North America -- Missouri River Valley
We have seen it also played by both men and women joined, a few men
aiding two parties of women. This was among the Sioux, but with the
other tribes it is generally played by men only.
Another mode of playing the game is by catching the ball in a network
over a small hoop a little larger than the ball attached to the end of
a stick. They catch it in this net as it flies through the air, and
throw it from one to the other toward either goal. The man who catches
can run with the ball toward the limit until he is overtaken by one on
the other side, when he throws it as far as he can on its way, which is
continued by the others. The women play hand and foot ball, also slide
long sticks on the snow, or billiards with flat stones on the ice. We
know of no other game at ball worth mentioning being played among them.
Foot racing is often practiced by the Mandan and Crows. The former
nation before they were so much reduced by smallpox had a regular race
course 3 miles in length, in which any and all, who chose, could try
their speed, which they did by running three times around this space,
betting very high on either side.
They still practice the amusement, but not so much as formerly.
RACING
Foot races among the Crow Indians are usually contested by two persons
at a time, a bet being taken by those concerned, and many more by the
friends and spectators on either side, consisting of blankets, buffalo
robes, or some other article of clothing. They mostly run about 300
yards and in starting endeavor to take every advantage of each other,
a dozen starts being often made before the race begins. These Indians
also run horse races, betting one horse against the other. The same
trickery and worse is displayed in their horse races as in their foot
races, and often the loser will not pay. The Sioux also have foot
races in which any one may join, provided he bets, which, if they have
anything to stake, they are sure to do. The name of being a fast and
long runner is highly prized among them all; indeed, after being a
warrior and hunter that of being a good runner is next to be desired,
but the principal aim in all these amusements appears to be the winning
of each other’s property. They, of course, occupy and enable them to
pass agreeably some of the long summer days, but we never see these
things introduced without the bets or prospects of gain, and from this
fact, together with the earnestness exhibited in betting, and in the
contest, we conclude it to be no more than another mode of gambling, to
which they are all so much addicted.
GAMBLING
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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