this exercise assembled on the prairie a
little distance from the village, and each one having paid his "entrance
fee," such as a shield, robe, pipe, or other article, would step forward
to the mark, and, selecting ten arrows, proceed to shoot them in the air
in rapid succession. The one who could get the greatest number up before
the _first_ fell to the ground claimed the "pool" and went away in the
best of spirits, displaying his gains as he journeyed through the
village.

The older braves passed their time in horse racing. This species of
sport varies but little among the Indians from that which obtains among
civilized communities. A track is mapped out upon the level prairie, and
a couple of lances, from which pennants are streaming, are planted
firmly in the ground at a point which denotes the goal. The riders start
from the upper end of the course, and plying the whip with all their
vigor, come thundering down the course with the speed of the wind. A
judge is appointed whose decision is irrevocable, and grouped around him
are the spectators intent on making their bets and watching the progress
of this tournament of speed.

Occasionally sham fights are inaugurated, when brave meets brave in all
the fierceness of battle array to go through the motions of Indian
warfare, circling around the foe, or bunching together, come down on the
enemy with startling suddenness, discharging a cloud of arrows, then,
wheeling short around, retrace their steps and prepare to receive the
shock of their enemy's advance.

One day a messenger brought the news that buffaloes had made their
appearance on the plain, and a numerous party was at once formed to go
in their pursuit. After having been gone about two days they returned
laden with the fruits of victory, and throwing the meat down in one
pile, issued their orders to have it cured at once.

This arduous task was delegated to the women, and in a very short time
poles were planted in every direction. The meat was dressed and then cut
in long strips of about a quarter of an inch in thickness, and, being
hung over the lines, was left to dry in the sunshine. When it is cured
the buffalo meat becomes _tasajo_, and in this state may be preserved
for a great length of time. It is cured without salt; in fact, the
Indians rarely if ever use this condiment, which is so essential to the
civilized white. This seems to be accounted for by the fact that they
use very little vegetable food. He