60 THE SIA

forthebracelet,but they did not sayanythingastheythought he

knew

best.

The

message beingdelivered to Po'shaiyaune, he said, "

Very

well, I willgive the braceletfor the house

and

all it contains."

The

ti'amoni thencalled Po'shaiyilnne to

him

and examined thebracelet, and hisheart

was

glad because he

was

to

have

thejewels.

He

then begged Po'shaiyiinne to be seated, saying, ^"

We

^{will play the}

^game

Wash'kasi.'

In ijlaying the favorite

game

of Wash'kasi (Fig. 16), forty peb- bles form a square, ten pebbles on a side, with a flat stone in the center of the square.

Four

flat sticks, painted blackon one sideand unpainted on the other,are held vertically

and

dropped

upon

the stone.

The

ti'amonithrew^first.

Two

black and two unpainted sides faced up.

Two

of the painted sides being

up

entitled the player to

Po-shai-yoft-ne's1^nwrv

I *

O

OOOOOOO-i

7T

amo

^{nilsf^rrwr-e \}

jr

^r-a.

D

Po-sfunrycuh-nes^4-f/''rnore j»

Po-^haiyan. •nei2'^/ru»w

a a o ^o o

.

Ti-a.-mo-ni'sj-^moye Poshai-ycut,-ne's^3'"- mmv.

Fig.16. The gameofWash'kasi.

move two

stones to the right. Po'shaiyiinne then threw, turning

up

thefourpainted sides. This entitled

him

to

move

tentothe left.

The

ti'amonithrew and threepaintedsides facedup. This entitled

him

to

move

three stonestotheright.

Again

Po'shaiyiinnethrew

and

allthe colored sides faced up, entitling

him

to

move

ten more.

The

next throw of the ti'amoni

showed

two colored sides

and

he

moved

two more. Po'shaiyiinnethrew again,all the colored sides being up; then he

moved

ten.

The

ti'iimoni then threw

and

allfour unpainted sides turned up; this entitled

him

^to

move

^six. Po'shaiyiinne threw

and

again all the painted sideswere up, entitling

him

to

move

ten, which brought

him

tothestarting point,

and won him

thegame.

The

followingmorning, afterthe ti'iimoni

had

eaten, they

went

into the chita as usual; Po'shaiyiinne, following, took liis seat near the entrance, with a blanket

wrapped

around him.

When

he approached theti'iimoni to hold the lighted stick to his cigarette, theti'iimoni's

astonishment

was

^{greatto find} a second bracelet, of ko-ha-qua,^

upon

thewristof Po'shaiyiinne.

Each

bead

was

large

aud

beautiful.

The

'Thoughitisnotmentionedinthe story,itseems tohe understoodthatthesegameswere played forthehouses, forhadPo'shaiyiinnelostthegameshewouldhavelostthehouses

^Ancient^fiatshellheadsas thin as paper.

STEVENSON. TJiE

GAME OF WASHKASI. 61

ti'iimoui urged Po'.shaiyaiiuenot toreturnto his seat

by

the ladder, butto sit with tbem; but ^lie declined,

and

thena messenger

was

sent toexamine the bracelet,

and

theman's reportexcited a great desire in the ti'amouitosecuretohimselfthissecondbracelet,

and

hishouseinthe west,withallthat itcontained,

was

offered in exchange forthebracelet.

This house

was

even finer than the one inthe north. Po'shaiyJinne repliedthat if the ti'amoui wishedthe bracelet, he

would

exchange ^it

forthe house inthe west.

Then

he

was

invited tobe seatednear the ti'amoui,

who

placed between

them

a large

bowl

containingsix 2-inch cubes, which were highly jiolished

and

painted on one side.

The

ti'amoui said to Po'shaiyiinne,

"Hold

the bowl with each hand,

and

toss

up

the six cubes.

When

three paintedsides are

up

the

game

is

won

^; with only two painted sides

up

the

game

^{is lost.} Six painted sides

up

is equivalentto a

march

in euchre." Po'shaiyanne replied,

"You

^first, not ^I.

You

aretheti'amoui; I

am

no one." "No,"saidthe ti'iimoui,

"you

play first;" butPo'shaiyanne refused,

and

theti'iimoui tossed

up

the blocks.

Only

two painted sideswereup; Po'shaiyanne, then taking the bowl, tossed the blocks,

and

all the painted sides turnedup.

Again

the ti'Jimoni tried his hand,

and

threepaintedsides faced uj); then Po'shaiyiiimethrew

and

the six painted sideswereup.

The

ti'amoui again threw, turning

up two

painted sides only; then Po'shaiyanne threw, with his previous success.

The

ti'iimoni threw,

and

again two painted sides were up. Po'shaiyanne threw,

and

six painted sidesfaced

up

as before,

and

soa second house

went

to him.

The

ti'iimoni said,

"We

^will go to our

homes and

^sleep,

and

return to thechitain the morning, after

we

liave eaten."

The

^following

morning

Po'shaiyiinne tookhis seat attheusualplace, but theti'iimoni said to him:

"Come and

^sit

among

us; you are

now more

than an ordinary

man,

for

you have

two houses that belonged to the ti'iimoni," but Po'shaiyiinne refused

and

proceeded to light the stick topass aroundforthe lighting of the cigarettes. "VVTien he ex- tendedhis

hand

to touchthestick to thecigarettes it

was

discovered that heworea

most

beautiful bracelet,

which was

red, but not coral.

The

ti'iimouiagain sent

au

emissary tonegotiateforthebracelet,offer- ing Po'shaiyiinnehis house in thesouth in

exchange

forthe red brace- let. Po'shaiyiinne consented

and

again a

game was

played.

Four

cir- cular sticks

some

8 inches long,with hollow ends, were stood in line

and

ablanket

thrown

overthem; theti'iimonithen put aroundpebble iuto theend ofone,

and

removing theblanket asked Po'shaiyiinne to choose the stick containing the pebble.

"No, my

father," said Po'- shaiyiinne,

"you

^first.

What am

^IthatIshould choose before

you?"

but the ti'iimoni replied, "I placed the stone^; I

know where

^it is."

Theu

Po'shaiyiinne selecteda stick

and

raising itthe pebble

was

visi- ble. Po'shaiyiinnethenthrew theblanketover the sticks

and

placed the stone ⁱⁿoneofthem, after whichthe ti'amoui selected a stick

and

raised ^it,butnostone

was

visible. This

was

repeatedfour times.

Each

62 THE

SIA.

time the ti'iimoiii failed

and

Po'shaiyanue succeeded,

and

again the housein thesouth

went

to Po'shaiyanne.

The

next

day when

all

had

^{assembled in thechita}

and

Po'shaiyanne

advanced

to lightthecigarettes a bracelet of rare black stone beads

was

^noticed on his wrist. This

made

the ti'amoni's heart beat with

envy and

he determined to

have

the braceletthough he

must

partwith hishousein the east;

and

heoffered it in exchange for the bracelet,

and

Po'shaiyanneaccepted theoffer.

The

ti'amonithen

made

fourlittle

mounds

ofsand

and

throwinga blanket over

them

placedinoneasmall*

roundstone.

Then

raising theblankethe requested Po'shaiyanne to select the

mound

ⁱⁿwhich he

had

placed thestone. Po'shaiyannesaid

:

"

My

^father,

what am

^IthatIshould choose beforeyou^?"

The

ti'iimoni replied, "₁placed the stone

and know

where^itis."

Then

Po'shaiyanne selected a

mound, and

the oneof his selection contained the stone.

The

placing of the stone

was

repeated four times,

and

each time the ti'amoni failed,

and

Poshaiyanne

was

successful;

and

thehearts ofall

the peoplewere sad

when

they

knew

thatthishouse

was

gone,butthey said nothing, for theybelieved theirti'amoni

knew

best.

The

ti'amoni said:

"We

will

now

go to our

homes and

^sleep,

and

on the morrow,

when we have

eaten,

we

will assemblehere."

In the

morning

Po'shaiyiinne took his accustomed place, entering aftertheothers.

Upon

his offering the lighted stick forthecigarettes thepeoplewere struck with amazement, for on the wrist of Po'shai-

yanne was

another bracelet of turkisof marvelous beauty,

and when

the ti'amoni discovered^ithis heart

grew hungry

forit

and

he sentone ofhis

men

tooffer hishouseof the zenith. Po'shaiyiinne replied that he

would

givethe braceletforthe house. Thishouse contained

many

Ijrecious things.

The

ti'amonirequested Po'shaiyanneto

come and

^sit

by

him;

and

theyplayedthe

game

Wash'kasi and, asbefore, Po'shai-

yanne was

successful

and

thehouseofthe zenith^fellto him.

The

followingmorning,

when

the people

had

assembledinthechita

and

as Po'shaiyanne passedthe stick to light thecigarettes, the ti'amoni

and

all the people

saw upon

his wrist another bracelet of large white beads.

They

werenotlike the heartof a shell, but white

and

trans- lucent.

The

ti'amoni could notresist thewishtohave this rare string of beads,

and

hesentoneofhis

men

^to offerhishouseof the nadirfor

it.

When

Po'shaiyanne agreed to the exchange, allthe people were sad,that the ti'amoni should partwithhishouse,buttheysaidnothing

and

the ti'amoni

was

too

much

pleased with the beautiful treasureto be^regretful.

He had

Po'shaiyanne

come and

sit

by him and

again play the

game

with the sixblocks inthe large bowl.

The game was

played with success on the part of Po'shaiyanne

and

he

became

the

owner

ofthe sixth house.

On

the following

day when

allwere gatheredinthechitathe ti'amoni said to Po'shaiyiinne:

"Come and

^sitwith us; surely you are

now

equalwith me,

and you

arerich indeed, for

you

have all

my

houses,"

STEVEKbON.] MAGIC.

63

but herefused,only passing

among

theurgists

and

people to ofier the lighted stickforthe cigarettes.

When

he extended his

hand

a bracelet

was

discovered

more

beautifulthau

any

ofthe others. It

was

pink

and

the stoneswere verylarge.

The

ti'iimoni

upon

seeing it cried, "Alas!

alas! Thisis

more

beautiful

and

precious than allthe others, but all

my

houses

and

treasuresare gone. Ihave nothing ^leftbut

my

people;

my

^old

men

and old

women; young men and

maidens and little ones."

Addressing thepeople,he said:

"My

children,

what

would you think ofyourti'amoni shouldhe wishto give

you

tothisyouth forthe beauti- ful beads?"

They

replied,

"You

^ai-e our father

and

ruler;

you

are wise

and know

all things that are best forus;" but theirhearts were

heavy and

sad,

and

theti'iimoni hesitated, for his heart

was

touched withthethoughtof giving

up

hispeople

whom

heloved; but the

more

he thoughtofthe bracelet the greater

became

his desire tosecureit,

and

he appealed asecond timeto hispeople

and

theyanswered:

"You know

best,ourfather,"

and

the peoplewere verysad,butthe heart of the^ti'ii-

moni

though touched

was

eagertopossess the bracelet.

He

sentoneof his

men

to offerinexchangefor the braceletallhispeople,

and

Po'shai-

yanne

repliedthathe wouldgive thebracelet forthepeople.

Then

the ti'iimoni called the youthto him, and they repeated the

game

of the foursticks,hollowedatthe ends. Po'shaiyiinne

was

successful,

and

the ti'amonisaid^: "

Take

all

my

people; they are yours;

my

heart^is sad to give

them

up,

and

you

must

be a good father to them.

Take

all the thingsI have, I

am

no longer of

any

consequence."

"No,"

said Po'- shaiyiinne; "_{I willnot,for}should ^I do so I

would

lose

my power

over game."

The two

remained in the chita

and

talked tora long time, theti'iimoniaddressing Po'shaiyiinne as father

and

Po'shaiyiinne call- ing theti'iimonifather.

After a time Po'shaiyiinne determined tovisit all the pueblos,

and

thengointo Mexico.

He was

recognized

by

the Sia atonce upon his arrival, forthey

had known

of

him and sung

of him,

and

they looked forhim.

He

entered the chita in

company

with the ti'iimoni(the one appointed

by

trt'set)

and

the theurgists. It

was

not until Po'shaiyiinne's visittothe Sia that theypossessed the

power

tocapturegame.

The men were

often sentout

by

theti'iimoni to lookforgame, but always returned withoiit

it,sayingthey could seetheanimals

and many

tracks butcould catch none;

and

their ruler

would

reply: "Alas!

my

children,

you

go forthe deerand return without

any

^;"

and

thustheyhuntedall over the earth but withoutsuccess.

After Po'shaiyiinne's talk with the ti'iimoni,

and

learninghiswish for game, he said: "Father,

what have you

for

me

^todo!"

And

the ti'iimonireplied:

"My

children

have

looked everywherefor deer,

and

they canfindnone; thej'see

many

tracks, but they can not catch the deer." "Well," replied Po'shaiyiinne, "I will go

and

lookfor game."

He

visited a high

mountain

inthe west, from

whose summit

hecould seeallover theearth,

and

lookingtothenorth, he

saw

on the top ofa