siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

158 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 103
From these accounts, and others that have come to us from early
visitors among other tribes, it would appear that the method of play
varied considerably.
Halbert also mentions the so-called moccasin game, which was
called by the Choctaw Naki Lohmi, " the hidden bullet," but Bushnell
is the only writer to describe the manner in which it was played
in that tribe. He says
Twelve men were required in playing this game. They knelt or sat on the
gi'ound in two rows, or sides, facing each other, six players in each row. Seven
hats were placed on the ground in a line between the two rows of players.
The player who was to start the game and who was always at one end of his
row held in one hand a small stone or shot. With his other hand he raised all
the hats in order, placing under one of these the stone or shot ; during the
entire performance he sang a particular song. After the stone or shot had been
placed, the player sitting opposite him guessed under which it lay. If he did
not succeed in three guesses, the leader removed the object and again hid it
under either the same or another hat. Then the second player on the opposite
side had three guesses. If a player guessed under which hat the object was
hidden, he in turn became the leader.
Unfortunately, those who described the game could not now recall how the
points were counted. They agreed, however, that the side having the greater
number of points made by the six players combined, won.°^
The missing information regarding this game was supplied to me
by Olmon Comby, a Mississippi Choctaw. He stated that two or
more could play so long as the number was even, for there must be
two opposing sides. Fifty sticks are used as counters, and at the
beginning of the game he who is to guess first takes 48 of these and
gives his opponent 2. Between the players are 4 socks or handker-
chiefs under which the one who has the bullet passes his hands successively.
He leaves it under one, striving to deceive his opponent
as to the identity of that one. The latter guesses in one of two ways.
If he wants to remove a sock but does not believe that the bullet is
under it, he lifts it gently; if he believes it to be there he pulls it
back to his breast with a sudden jerk. The count is as follows
If he jerks off the first and finds the bullet he wins 4
If he lifts first and jerks second and finds it he wins 2
If he lifts first and second and jerks third and finds it he wins 2
If he jerks oif first and it is not there he loses 4
If he lifts first and jerks second and it is not there he loses 2
If he lifts first and second and jerks off third and it is not there he loses 2
If he lifts off first and it is there he loses 4
If he lifts off first and then second and it is there he loses 2
If he lifts off first and second he is not allowed to lift the third but must
jerk it.
It is curious that if the opponent has 2 sticks and the guesser
makes 4 the latter does not win ; instead, they swap sticks, the guesser
^ Bushnell, Bull. 48, Bur. Amer. Ethn., p. 19.