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Show BALL GAME OF CHER0KEES Important Function Is Preceded by 6ong and Dance Which Lasts All Night. Tho ball game uh played by the Cherokoes Is as Important to them as football or an other populur gamo Is I to other people Tho eastern band of Cherokeos Ilvo on tho Qunlla rcscr vatlon In western North enroll na. Tho neighborhood In which 1 llvo. writes nn Indian girl In tho Red Mnn, Is divided into four main sections, ' namely: Yellow Hill, Soro, Illg Cove I nnd Rlrdtown Tho Indlnns living In one of theso sections will challcngo , those living In another to n gamo of ball They choose their pla)ers and t ngree upon tho time and place for plaj Ing the gamo. It Is genorally( played In an open field far different from tho woll graded field upon which the game of football Is played. The evening before tho game tho Indians, In-dians, tho women Included, hold a danco In their respcctlvo sections of tho country. Theso dances aro held In tho open air, usually near somo snTnll stream. Tho women do tho singing whllo tho men dance. In their songe they mako all kinds of remarks about those of tho opposing Bldo. These dances continue all night long. From tho tlmo of tho dances until after the games the players nro not allowed to eat any food. The follow Ing day thp people from ! the different sections gather at tho ap ! pointed placo to witness tho game. . They cither sit or stand around tho ' edge of tho field Tbo ball players I each havo two sttckB similar to thoso used In tho game of lacrosso, only smallsr. Tho ball Is loaned up In the center of tho field and tho gamo he-glnB he-glnB Tho object Is to get It around two poles placed at each ond of the , field a certain number of tlmos. Thoy cannot pick up tho ball In their hands. Tho players who succoed In getting I tho ball around tho poles nt tho end , of tho field tho greatest number of times win tho game. Rod Man Magazine, |
