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SWANTON] CHOCTAW SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL LIFE 147
again, though on a smaller scale, a scene of wild confusion was seen—scuffling,
pulling, pushing, butting—unsui-passed in any game ever engaged in by man.
Perhaps, a throw-back secures the ball and starts upon the wing, in the
direction of his pole, meeting the advancing throng, but with his own throwbacks
and the pole-men of his opponents at his heels ; the latter to prevent
him from making a successful throw and the former to prevent any inter-
ference, while the shouts of " Falamolichi ! " " Falamolichi ! " arose from his
own men in the advancing runners. Again the ball flies through the air, and
is about to fall directly among them, but ere it reaches the ground many
spring into the air to catch it, but are tripped and they fall headlong to the
earth. Then, as the ball reaches the ground, again is brought into full requisition
the propensities of each one to butt, pull, and push, though not a sound
is heard, except the wild rattling of the kapucha, that reminded one of the
noise made by the collision of the horns of a drove of stampeding Texas steers.
Oft amid the play women were seen giving water to the thirsty and offering
words of encouragement ; while others, armed with long switches stood ready
to give their expressions of encouragement to the supposed tardy, by a severe
rap over the naked shoulders, as a gentle reminder of tlieir dereliction of duty
all of which was received in good faith, yet invariably elicited the response
"Wah!" as an acknowledgment of the favor.
From ten to twenty was generally the game. Whenever the ball was thrown
against the upright fabussa (poles), it counted one, and the successful
thrower shouted ;
" lUi tok," (dead) meaning one number less; oft accompanying
the shout by gobbling vociferously like the wild turkey, which elicited a shout
of laughter from his party, and a yell of defiance from the other. Thus the
exciting, and truly wild and romantic, scene was continued, with unabated
efforts on the part of the players until the game was won. But woe to the
inconsiderate white man, whose thoughtless curiosity had led him too far upon
the hetoka, (ball ground) and at whose feet the ball should chance to fall ;
if the
path to that ball was not clear of all obstructions, the 200 players, now approach-
ing with the rush of a mighty whirlwind would soon make it so. And right
then and there, though it might be the first time in life, he became a really
active man, if the desire of immediate safety could be any inducement, cheer-
fully inaugurating proceedings by turning a few double somersets, regardless
as to the scientific manner [in which] he executed them, or the laugh of
ridicule that might be offered at his expense; and if he escaped only with
a broken limb or two, and a first-class scare, he might justly consider himself
most fortunate. But the Choctaws have long since lost that interest in the
ball-play that they formerly cherished in their old homes east of the Mississippi
River. 'Tis true, now and then, even at the present day [1899], they indulge
in the time honored game, but the game of the present day is a Lilliputian—
veritable pygmy—in comparison with the grand old game of three quarters of
a century ago; nor will it be many years ere it will be said of the Choctaw
tolih, as of ancient Troy— " Ilium fuit."
To any one of the present day, an ancient Choctaw ballplay would be an
exhibition far more interesting, strange, wild and romantic, in all its features,
than anything ever exhibited in a circus from first to last—excelling it in every
particular of daring feats and wild recklessness. In the ancient ball-play, the
activity, fleetness, strength and endurance of the Mississippi Choctaw warrior
and hunter, were more fully exemplified than anywhere else; for there he
brought into the most severe action every power of soul and body. In those
ancient ball-plays, I have known villages to lose all their earthly possessions
upon the issue of a single play. Yet, they bore their misfortune with becoming