102 THE SEMINOLES OF FLORIDA
as the men. The game is unique, and might be
practised with much pleasure by our American boys.
 Within a circle whose circumference is about thirty
feet is erected a pole, which serves as a goal. The
players take sides, or in country school parlance,
"choose up." The object of the game is to strike
the pole with the ball, which is knocked with a
racket or stick, which is made of hickory, with a
netted pocket made of deer thongs.
 The ball is tossed up and caught in the netted
pocket, and then hurled at the pole. The opposing
side endeavor to prevent the ball from touching the
post. Sometimes the ball strikes the ground away
beyond the line of play, and then a scamper for it
is a moment of great excitement. Men, women and
children make a rush for the ball, the victor having
the next play. A scorekeeper stands by the pole,
keeping a record of the play.
 As the twilight falls the players end the game
and the feast begins. The edibles are distributed
into three parts, the men taking their portion and go-
ing to a selected spot, the women likewise to a point
designated for them, and the children to a third lo-
cation. This peculiar arrangement is not indulged
in at any other time, but has some ancient signifi-
cance and is followed at this festival.
 When the feast is over, which consisted of the
fruits of the chase and the best products of the little
palmetto-fenced gardens, the band assembled for the
grand hunting dance. Campfires burned all around
the dancing square, and as the dusky forms emerged