754 



REPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



nieut they do ; but when a regularset to takes place between two soldiers, it generally 

 ends as above described. 



The usual game wliicli women play alone — that is, without the men— is called Cliiin- 

 kaii-dce, and is performed with by four sticks marked on one side and blank on the 



other, as described in the iuclosed plate. The 

 women all sit in a circle around the edge nf some 

 skin spread ui)on the ground, each with her stake 

 before her. One of them gathers up the sticks 

 and throws them down forcibly on the end, which 

 If \ U I makes them bound and whirl around. When they 



W m <"/ \/// ^"^^ ^'^^^ number of the throw is counted, as herein 



t J wL Mb stated. The implements (fig. 79) are four sticks, 



m ' § 1- inches long, flat, aud rounded at the ends, 



1 I II) about 1 inch broad aud ^ thick. Two of them 



/ 1 have figures of snakes burned on one side aud two 



the figure of a bear's foot. 



All the sticks are white on the opposite side. 



2 painted or marked sides and 2 white 

 counts 2 



All the white sides tnrued up counts. 10 



3 burnt sides up aud 1 white count.. 

 (N. B. — Three white sides up aud 1 



burnt counts noihiug.) 



4 burnt sides uji counts 10 



Fig. 79. 



SET OF GAMING STICKS. 



Length, 12 inclies. 

 Assinaboin Indians, Upper MLssouri. 



From a sketch by Etlwin T. Denig. 



Each throws in turn against all others, and if 

 the whole of the marked sides or all the fair sides 

 of the sticks are turned up, she is entitled to a 

 successive throw. The game is forty, and they 

 count by small sticks as in the preceding. In line 

 weather many of these gambling circles can be seen outside their lodges, spending 

 the whole day at it, instead of attending to their household affairs. Some men 

 prohibit their wives from gambling, but these take the advantage of their husbands' 



SET OP BONE GAMING STAVES. 



Length, SJ inches. 

 Gros Ventres Indians, Dakota. 



Cat. No. S426, U.S.N.M. 



absence to play. Most of the women will gamble off everything they possess, even 

 to the dresses of their children, and the passion appears to be as deeply rooted in 

 them as in the men. They frequently are thrashed by their husband for their losses 

 and occasionally have quarrels among themselves as to the results of the game. 



