Much more important are the magical devices by means of which they endeavour to secure their own success and to defeat their opponents.  A daring manager may go to a burial cave, taking two balls with him.  He digs out a bone, preferably the tibia from the right leg, and sets it on the floor of the cave in which it has been found.  In front of it he places a jar with tesvino and some vessels containing food.  On either side of these he lays one of his balls, and in front of all he plants the cross.  The food and the beer are the payment to the dead that he may help to win the race by weakening the adversaries.

As human bones are supposed to induce fatigue, some may be brought to the race-track and secreted there in such a way that the competing runners have to pass over the spot, while the manager’s own crew are advised of the danger, to avoid it.  The man uses the utmost care not to touch the bones with his fingers, lest he should dry up; instead, he uses sticks in handling and carrying them.

Scores of remedies are brought to the scene, either to strengthen friends Or to weaken opponents.  Certain herbs are thrown into the air or shaken before the runners to enervate them.  Some enterprising Mexican may bring a white powder or similar substance, declaring that it is very efficacious, and get a Tarahumare to pay a high price for it.  But whatever means are employed, one way or the other, there is always a counter-remedy to offset its effect.  Specially potent is the blood of the turtle and the bat, stirred together, dried, and mixed with a little tobacco, which is then rolled into a cigar and smoked.  Hikuli and the dried head of an eagle or a crow may be worn under the girdle as a protection.

The services of the shaman are indispensable for the foot-runners.  He helps the manager, himself often a shaman, to rub the men with herbs and smooth stones to make them strong.  He also makes passes over them to guard them against sorcery.  On the day before the races he “cures” them.  Food and remedies are placed on a blanket beneath the cross, together with many magical things.  The herbs are very powerful and have to be tied up in bags of buckskin or cotton cloth, as otherwise they might break away.  The water for the runners to drink is also placed underneath the cross, and candles are set on either side of the pile.  The runners bring their balls and stand in a row around the cross.  Then the shaman, taking his position in front of the latter, smokes incense of copal over them, and sings of the tail of the grey fox, and other songs.  He also makes a speech, warning them not to accept pinole or water in other people’s houses.  All their food and drink must come from their relatives as a guard against witchcraft and illness.  The runners drink three times from the water and the strengthening remedies; then the principal runner leads the others in a ceremonial circuit around the cross, walking as many times around it as there are circuits to be run in the race.  The men sleep near the cross, to watch the remedies on the blanket.  With them they have some old man, for old men see even when they sleep, and watch against sorcery.