CHEISS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 



711 



must bo made by a player before the twelve sticks can come into her possession and 

 the game be won, it will be seen that the contest may be long drawn out. A run of 

 luck is needed to finish it. 



Some of the counts made by the throws are here given: 



3 blanks and chief =; 6 points = 6 sticks. 



3 blanks and chief reversed = 3 points = 3 sticks. 



2 zig/.ag, 1, 4, and chief = 4 points ^ 4 sticks. 



2 blanks, 1, 4, and chief = 2 points = 2 sticks. 



2 blanks, 1 zigzag, and chief = zero point = zero sticks. 



2 blanks, 1 zigzag, and chief reverses ^ zero point = zero sticks. 



1 zigzag, 1 hlank, 1, 4, and chief = zero point = zero sticks. 



The women do not sing at this game as the men do at the gambling game of " hands." 



Fig. 33. 



SET OF BONE GAMINU STAVES. 



Length, 5J inches. 

 Blacki'eet, South Piegan Keserve, Montana. 



Cat. No. 5WM, Field Columbian Museum. 



The game described was obtained by Mr. Griiinell from the Piegans 

 of the Bhickfeet Agency iu northwestern Montana, on tlie eastern 

 tianks of the Kocky Mountains. They live on Milk lliyer, Cut Bank, 

 Willow, Two Medicine Lodge, and Badger creeks; the southernmost 

 tribe of the Blackfeet. It will be observed that the implements for this 

 game are practically identical with those collected by Dr. Matthews 

 from the Gros Ventres in Dakota (fig. 89). Concerning this Mr. Grin- 

 nell remarks: 



The Gros Ventres of Dakota— by which are meant, of course, the Gros Ventres of 

 the village, a tribe of Crow stock— are not very distant neighbors of the Blackfeet, 

 and iu fact the people of the old Fort Berthold village, the Gros Ventres, Kees, and 

 Mandans, have many customs, and eveu some traditions, which closely resemble 

 those of the Blackfeet. 



