A contest now takes place between the two persons chosen by the Judges to be the two Guessers, one for each side, to decide which shall begin the game.  The Judge for the north side calls the name of the person chosen to be the Guesser for that side and the Custodian escorts him to his place within the circle.  The Judge for the south side calls the name of the person chosen to be Guesser for that side, and the Custodian escorts him to his place within the circle.  The Custodian then gives to each the wand belonging to his side and also one of the small balls.

The Guesser from the north side hides his ball in one of his hands, shifting it behind his back, then he holds out both hands in front of him with all the fingers closed except the index finger, which is extended as if pointing to the other Guesser.  Both hands and forearms must be rhythmically moved up and down.  The south side Guesser watches for a moment and then points with his wand to the hand he thinks has the ball.  As soon as he points to a hand, it must be immediately opened, palm upward.  Should the ball be in the other hand, it must be shown to be lying there.  If the guess was correct, the ball being in the hand pointed at, it counts one.  Three correct guesses must be made by one of the Guessers in order to secure for his side the right to open the game.  In this contest the Guessers must alternate, first the north side Guesser, then the south side Guesser, and so on until one of the Guessers has won three correct guesses.  That decides it.  His side is to hide the ball and the other side’s Guesser is to do the guessing.

THE GAME

The Custodian takes the drum from its position in front of the rug, carries it to the side of the successful Guesser and sets it before the three Singers who are to lead in the singing of the song belonging to that side of the circle of players.  Every one on that side must sing the song as they hide the balls.  Only those on the side that is hiding the balls sing.  They can only sing the song that belongs to their side.

SONG FOR THE NORTH SIDE

[Music]

SONG FOR THE SOUTH SIDE

[Music]

There are no words for either of these songs.  The vocables given are those used with these songs when the Indians sing them as they hide the balls.

The Custodian takes the two balls from the Guessers and hands them to two persons designated by the Guesser who has won the right for that side to begin.  The two persons designated must be two who are sitting together.  They each take a ball, and they must hide the balls in the same manner as did the Guessers during the contest.  The fingers of the hands are closed, all but the index finger, which is extended as if pointing.  The hands and arms move up and down and also from one side to the other; all of these