150 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



Everything that each player intends to stake is 

 collected. The relative values are agreed on, and 

 compared and divided into so many stakes. An 

 Indian will often risk knife, gun, ammunition, and 

 indeed everything he possesses, except the clothes 

 he stands in. The lookers on assist at the perform- 

 ance by beating frying-pans and tin kettles, and 

 singing the eternal " He he, hi hi, hay hay," the 

 ordinary Indian song. 



The players squatted opposite each other, with 

 legs crossed, and capote or blanket spread over their 

 knees. The game consisted in one of the players 

 hiding in his hands two small articles, as a ramrod 

 screw, or brass hair-wire, whilst the others endea- 

 voured to guess what was contained in either hand. 

 The holder did his best to deceive the others, by 

 continually keeping his hands in motion, now under 

 the blanket on his lap, now behind his back, or 

 clasped together. Between each change the hands 

 were held out for the choice of his opponent, wlio 

 watched eagerly, in great excitement, and generally 

 took a long time to make his guess. 



All this time the drumming and singing never 

 ceased, and in time with it the players swayed their 

 bodies, and moved up and down in their seats. As 

 each gained or lost, the result was notched on a 

 stick, each notch representing a stake. 



This went on for half the day, with unceasing 

 energy and unfaihng interest to the players and 

 spectators, except Cheadle, who was weary of the 

 din and monotony of the amusement. At last the 



