CHESS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 753 



In this way the game is kept, but each keeps his adversary's game, not his own; 

 that is, he liands him a number of sticks equal to the amount of his throw, which 

 are laid so that all can see them. P2ach throws in turn unless the big claw stands 

 on end, in which case the person is entitled to a successive throw. By much practice 

 they are able to count the number turned up at a glance, and the principles of the 

 game being stated on the drawing we will now describe how it is carried on. It 

 has been observed in these pages, iu references to their gambling, that it is much 

 fairer in its nature than the same as carried on by the whites, and this is worthy of 

 attention, inasmuch as it shows liow the loser is propitiated, so that the game may 

 not result in quarrel or bloodsh(Ml, as is often the case. The game is mostly played 

 by the soldiers and warriors, and each must feel equal to the other in courage and 

 resolution ; it is often kept up for two or three days and nights without any inter- 

 mission, except to eat, until one of the parties is ruined. 



iu'am7*/e.— A plays against B; each puts up a knife, and they throw alternately 

 until 100 is counted by dice; say A wins. B now puts up his shirt against two 

 knives, which is about equal in value ; say A wins again. B then stakes his powder- 

 horn and some arrows against the whole of A's winnings. Should B now win, the 

 game commences again at the beginning, as A would only have lost a knife; but, 

 supi)osiug A wins, B now puts up his bow and quiver of arrows against all A 

 has wou. The stakes are never withdrawn but let lie iu front of them. Say A again 

 wins. B then stakes his blanket and leggings, which are about equal in value to all 

 A has won, or, if not, it is eciualized by adding or subtracting some article. Sup- 

 posing A again to be winner, he would then be in possession of 2 knives, 1 shirt, 

 1 blanket, 1 powderhorn, 1 bow and quiver of arrows, and 1 pair leggings, the 

 whole of which the Indians value at 8 robes. B now stakes his gun against all the 

 above of A's winnings; now if A again wins, he only retains the gun, and the whole 

 ot the rest of the property won by A returns to B, but he is obliged to stalce it all 

 against his gun in possession of A, and ]day again. If A wins the second time, he 

 retains the whole, and B now puts u]i his linrse against all of A's winnings, including 

 gun. If A wius, he retains only the horse, and the gun and everything else revert 

 again to B, he being obliged to stake them again against the horse in A's possession. 

 If A wins this time, hefkeeps the whole, but if B wius he only gets back the hor.se 

 and gun, and all the rest of the property goes to A. Supposing B again loses and 

 continues losing uutil all his personal property has passed into the hands of A, then 

 B, as a last resort, stakes his wife and lodge against all his property in the hands of 

 A. If A wins, he only keeps the woman; the horse, gun, and all other property 

 returns again to B, with the understanding, however, that he stake it all to get back 

 his wife. Now if B loses, he is ruined, but if A loses he gives up only the woman 

 and the horse, continuing to play with the rest of the articles against the horse 

 until one or the other is broke. 



At this stage of the game the excitement is reri) great. The spectators crowd 

 around and intense fierceness prevails. Few words are exchangeil, and no remarks 

 made l)y those looking on. If the loser be completely ruined and a desperate man, 

 it is more than likely he will by quarrel endeavor to repossess himself of some of 

 his property, but they are generally well matched in this respect, though bloody 

 struggles are often the conseijuence. We have known Indians to lose everjithing, 

 horse, dogs, cooking utensils, lodge, wife, even to his wearing apparel, and be obliged 

 to beg an old skin from someone to cover himself, and seek a shelter in the lodge of 

 one of his relations. It is, however, considered a mark of manliness ta sutfer no 

 discomposure to be perceptible on account of the loss, but in most cases we imagine 

 this a restraint force<l ui)on the loser by the character of his iulversary. Suicide is 

 never coumiittedou thes«; occasions. His vengeance seeks some other outlet — in war 

 expeditions, or some way to ac^iuirts pro})erty that he may again jilay and retrieve 

 his losses. There are some who invariably lose and are ]ioor all their lives. A man 

 may with honor stop i)layiiig with the loss of his gun. He has, also, a second oppor- 

 tunity to retire on losing his horse, and when this is so understood at the commence- 

 NAT MUS 06 18 



