Two-Balls-Tied-Together: the precedent

As you know from reading my precedent-breaking article Of Schmerltzes, Sockballs and Pantyhose , I have, for many years now, been advocating the development and exploration of the play value of what one could only call "Two Balls Tied Together." I originally described this concept to Games Magazine many years ago when I was contributingeditor. We even had a photo shoot. But, alas, it was deemed too unproven for the Games-reading masses.

And today I discover that there is an actual Native American precedent for this very same initiative, apparently called "Double Ball"



I quote, in smirkful glee, from Stuart Culin's description:

The peculiar ball employed for this game is composed of two small stuffed pouches connected by a band, or two billets of wood about five inches long, made like thick pegs with heads and ornamented on all sides with carvings; a leather thong five to eight inches long is attached at each end to the neck of each of the two billets...

Properties.—One double-ball; as many sticks as players; red and yellow head-bands, equal in number, for the two sides of players.

Directions.—The double-ball should be made in camp in the following manner: A strip of leather or of strong, closely woven brown cloth from fifteen to twenty inches long. For six inches from both ends the strip should be about seven inches wide; the portion of the strip between these wide ends should be about three inches wide...Two wickets, made by crotched poles about five and a half to six feet high, having a bar fastened across the top, are placed in line with each other, one at the East, the other at the West, and as far apart as the limits of the camp grounds will permit. A red streamer to be tied to the eastern wicket and a yellow streamer to the western wicket.

Clearly it is the great spirit of my Native American brethern speaking through me. Let it not once again fall on the deaf ears of the white eyes.