CHESS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 



727 



his own winnings, the ganio ending as soon as the capital in the hands of either 

 player was exhausted. If four played, each had a partner or played independently, 

 as they were disposed; but when more than two played, each one was to pay the 

 winner the amount won. Thus, if four were playing independently, and after the 

 beans were distributed among them, in the progress of the game one of them should 

 turn the buttons up all black or all white, the other three would be obliged to pay 



Fig. 47. 



OrS-GA-E-SA-TA, OR DEER-BUTTONS. 



Seneca Indians, l^ow York. 



Aftt-r Morgan. 



him twenty each; but if the beans were still in bank, he took up but twenty. The 

 •leer buttons were of the same size. In the figure [iig. 47] they are represented at 

 different angles. 



An ancient and favorite game of the Iroquois, Gus-kd'-eh, was played with a Ijowl 

 and peach-stones. It was always a betting game, in which the people divided by 

 tribes. By established custom, it was introduced as the concluding exercise on the 

 last day of the Green Corn and. the Harvest festivals, and also of the New Year's 

 jubilee. Its introduction among 

 them is ascribed to the first To-ilo- 

 da'-ho, who flourished at the forma- 

 tion of the League. A popular 

 belief prevailed that this game 

 would be enjoyed by them in the 

 future life— in the realm of the 

 Great Spirit— which is perhaps but 

 an extravagant way of expressing 

 their admiration for the game. A 

 dish about a foot in diameter at the 

 base was carved out of a knot or 

 made of earthen. Six peach-stones 

 were then ground or cut down into 

 an oval form, reducing them in the 

 process about half in size, after 

 which the heart of the pit was re- 

 moved and the stones themselves 



were burned upon one side to blacken them. The above representation [figs. 18, 

 49] will exhibit both the bowl and tlie peach-stones, the latter being drawn in 

 different positions to show the degree of their convexity. 



It was a very simple game, depending, in part, upon the dexterity of the player, 

 but more upon his good fortune. The peach-stones were shaken in the bowl by the 

 player, the count depending upon the number which came up of one color after they 



Fig. 48. 



GUSKA'-EH, OR PEACH STONES. 



Seneca Indians, Kew York. 



After Morff.in. 



