siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

156 BUEEAU OF AMEEICAlsr ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 103
won the winner casts the stone and eleven is up; they hurl this stone and pole
with wonderful dexterity and violence, and fatigue themselves much at it/'
Cushman also has something regarding this game
They also indulged in another game in which they took great delight, called
Ulth Chuppih, in which but two players could engage at the same time; but
upon the result of which, as in the Tolih, they frequently bet their little all.
An alley, with a hard smooth surface and about two hundred feet long, was
made upon the ground. The two players took a position at the upper end at
which they were to commence the game, each having in his hand a smooth,
tapering pole eight or ten feet long flattened at the ends. A smooth round stone
of several inches in circumference was then brought into the arena ; as soon as
both were ready. No. 1 took the stone and rolled it with all his strength down
the narrow inclined plane of the smooth alley ; and after which both instantly
started with their utmost speed. Soon No. 2, threw his pole at the rolling stone
instantly No. 1, threw his at the flying pole of No. 2, aiming to hit it, and, by
so doing, change its course from the rolling stone. If No. 2 hits the stone, he
counts one ; but if No. 1 prevents it by hitting the pole of No. 2, he then counts
one ; and he, who hits his object the greater number of times in eleven rollings
of the stone was the winner. It was a more difficult matter to hit either the
narrow edge of the rolling stone, or the flying pole than would be at first
imagined. However, the ancient Chahtah Ulth Chuppih may come in at least
as a worthy competitor with the pale-face Ten-pin-alley, for the disputed right
of being the more dignified amusement.**
Halbert says that this game "became practically obsolete in the
early years of the nineteenth century, though it was occasionally
played by the Six Towns Indians as late at 1842." He continues
The achahpi game, called chungkee by eighteenth century writers, was played
with poles and a circular stone about six inches in diameter (called tali
chanaha, " stone wheel " (or ring) ). It was a game common to all the Southern
Indian nations. To play the game an oblong piece of ground was well cleaned
and sprinkled over with fine sand. The two players took their stand about
eighteen feet from one end of the achahpi ground. One held the stone. Their
poles were about eight feet long, smooth and tapering at each end with a flat
point. They were anointed with bear's oil. When the players were ready,
they started from their stand, and as they reached the edge of the achahpi
ground, the one with the stone hurled it towards the middle of the yard, and
as it rolled along the ground, the two men, after running a short distance
darted their poles at it. When the throw was completed, the player the head
of whose pole lay nearest to the stone, counted one for himself ; and otherwise,
one was counted for the pole lying nearest to the stone. The Indians were
very much given to this play, the players often engaged in it the greater part
of the day, and staking upon the issue their silver ornaments, and even all
their clothing, except their flaps.'*
In another place he has left us a more extended description,
varying in some details from the one just given.
Some ten years ago there lived in Neshoba County an aged Choctaw named
Mehubbee, who had often seen the achahpih game played in his youth, and who
«s Romans, Nat. Hist. E. and W. Fla., pp. 79-80. «> H. S. Halbert, Ms. notes.
»* Cushman, Hist. Inds., p. 190.