Guests began to arrive, coming from Seloy and other coast villages from
the north, and from the broad savannas of the fertile Alachua land, until
many hundred of them were encamped within a few miles of Fort Caroline.
At length the day of feasting broke bright and beautiful, and soon after
breakfast Laudonniere, accompanied by Rene de Veaux and half the garrison
of Fort Caroline, marched out to the scene of the games. Here they were
warmly welcomed by Micco and his people, and invited to occupy seats of
honor in the great booth. Upon their arrival the signal was given for
the games to begin.
First of all came the races for wives, for at this feast only of all the
year could the young men of the tribe get married. Even now they were
obliged to run after their sweethearts, who were allowed so great a start
in the race that if they chose they could reach the goal first and thus
escape all further attentions from their pursuers. They generally
allowed themselves to be caught, however, and thus became blushing
brides. Thus, on this occasion, and in this manner, Yah-chi-la-ne (the
Eagle), a young Alachua chief, gained the hand of Has-se's beautiful
sister Nethla, which means the Day-star.
The contests among the boys to decide who of them should be Bow-bearer to
their chief for the ensuing year followed, and as the great drum,
Kas-a-lal-ki, rolled forth its hollow, booming notes, twenty slender
youths stepped forward, of whom the handsomest was Has-se the Sunbeam,
and the tallest was dark-faced Chitta the Snake.
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