The mat or blanket should be laid east and west.  The two players sit opposite each other, one near the northern edge of the mat, the other near the southern edge.  The counters are divided in half, one-half put at the eastern end of the mat, the other half at the western.  The counters at the east belong to the player sitting at the north, those at the west to the player at the south.  Two singers stand back of each player.  The spectators are grouped about the mat, but must not be too near the players.  Lots are drawn to decide which player shall “hold the reeds.”  The player who loses the chance to “hold the reeds” becomes the one who is to be the guesser.

All the game-reeds, including the reed with the black band painted on it, are thrown in a pile in the center of the mat or blanket.  The player who is to “hold the reeds” gathers all the game-reeds in his hands, brings them behind his back, where he shuffles and divides the reeds into two bunches, one for each hand.  When he is ready to bring his hands forward, each one with a bunch of reeds grasped by the middle, the two singers standing behind him start the following song: 

GAME SONG

[Music]

When the music begins, the player holding the reeds sways his body from side to side, moves his arms and hands with the reeds and simulates being blown by the winds.  The opposite player, by the movements of body and arms, indicates that he is pushing his way through tall reeds tossed by the wind, searching for something he desires to find.  Both players in all their movements must keep in rhythm of the song, observe strict time and strive to make their actions tell the story plainly.  The guesser through all his motions must keep his eyes on the bunches held by his opponent, seeking for an indication to show which one contains the marked reed.  When he is ready to guess he extends both arms toward the bunch he has fixed upon, as if to grasp it.  At this action the holder of the reeds must open his hand and let the reeds of that bundle fall on the mat.  The guesser then searches among the spilled reeds for the one that is marked; if he finds it, he holds it up so that all can see that his guess has been correct and the reed discovered.  The two singers who stand behind him give the victory shout, go to his pile of counters, take one and place it at his right hand, then the reeds of the other bunch are thrown by the holder on the mat, so that all the game-reeds are lying in the center, as at the beginning of the game.

The player who made the successful guess now picks up the game-reeds and behind his back shuffles and divides them.  When he is ready to bring forward his two hands holding the reeds, the two singers standing behind him begin the Game Song, while he waves the bunches, acting what is now his role, that of the reeds being blown about by the winds.  The other player now becomes the guesser and must act as though he were searching among the blown reeds for the one he desires.