An Indian Snake Game
Throwing the Snow Snake in Tracks Made through the Snow with a Log: Each Player Tries to Get His Snake First Out at the End of the Track More Times Than His Opponents
Ask any Canadian Indian what a snow snake is, and he will tell you that it is a piece of twisted wood, such as a wild grape vine, about 5 or 6 ft. long, and 1 in. or over in thickness, stripped of its bark and polished. It is grasped with one hand in the center and given a strong forward throw at the tail end by the other hand, while at the same time the hold in the center is loosened. With a hard bottom and about 1 in., or more, of light snow on top—ideal conditions for playing the game—the Indian snake will travel for a long distance when thrown by an expert, and to a novice seeing the snake traveling along at a rapid speed, raising and lowering its head as the wood vibrates from side to side, its resemblance to the real reptile is perfect.
When the Indians have tests of skill with the snake they make tracks through the snow by drawing a log in it, and sometimes as many as a dozen tracks are made side by side, and a dozen snakes are sent along at once. The one who makes his snake emerge from the end of the track first the most times out of a certain number of throws, takes the prize. The trick of throwing the snake is not at all hard to acquire, and it makes an exciting game.—J. E. Noble, Toronto, Can.