Indians Playing Lacrosse

C.W. Jefferys' notes about this picture from The Picture Gallery of Canadian History Volume 1

Lacrosse was developed from an Indian ball game in which a large and variable number of players took part. The name was given by the French on account of the stick by which the ball was caught and thrown. In its original shape this resembled a bishop's crozier, the handle being bent round to form a circle tied together with thongs of gut or rawhide to make a pocket. Later the pocket or bag was lengthened so that it became triangular in shape rather than circular. The game is not mentioned by Cartier nor Champlain. The earliest reference to it is in the Jesuit Relations of 1636. Later descriptions are to be found in the Journal of Father Charlevoix, in the Manners of the Savages by Lafitau, and with illustrations in the works of George Catlin.