758 



REPORT OP NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



scorcbed entirely on one side, another pair has an nnburnt line about 2 millimeters 

 wide traversing their longitudinal convexity (the remainder of their surfaces on 

 that side being scorched) ; the remaining pair have one-half of one side burnt longi- 

 tudinally, the other half of the tsanie side unburnt, but traversed by three small 

 burnt lines equidistant about 1 millimeter Avide running across Ihjeir short axes. 

 The remaining and only single seed has an houi-glass figure burnt on one side, the 

 contraction in the ligure corresponding to the long diameter of the seed. They are 

 all of the same size, about 16 millimeters long, 12 wide, and 7 thick, and are oval, 

 having the outlines and convexity on each side of a diminutive turtle shell. When 

 the Sioiix first obtained our ordinary playing cards they gave to them, as well as to 

 the game, the name kansii, because they were used by the whites and themselves 

 for the same purpose as their original kansii. The men do not use the seeds or the 

 original lansn now, but they substitute our cards. The women, however, do use the 

 game at the present time. When a ration ticket was issued to them thej-^ gave it 

 the name of kansu, because it was a card; so also to a postal card, business card, or 



Fig. 85. 



BASKET FOR PLUM STONE GAME. 



Diameter at top, 8 inches. 

 Dakota Sioux, South Dakota. 



Cat. Vo. 10443, Museum o£ Archteology, University of Pennsylvania. 



anything of the description of a card or ticket; a railroad, street-car, milk, store, 

 or circus ticket would be called a ka)isii ; so that the evolution of this term as applied 

 to a ticket is a little interesting. 



The description of the game kansu, as related by the Sioux is as follows: Any 

 number of persons may play, and they call the game kansu kute, w^hich literally 

 means "to shoot the seeds." When two persons play, or four that are partners, 

 only six of the seeds are used, the hourglass or king kansu being eliminated. The 

 king is used when a number over two are playing and each one for himself. The 

 three-line seeds are called "sixes," the one-line "fours," those that are all black 

 "tens." When two play for a wager they each put sixteen small sticks, stones, 

 corn, peas, or what jiot into a common pile between them, making in all thirty-two. 

 The play begins by putting the seeds into a small bowl or basket and giving it a 

 quick upward motion, which changes the positions of the seeds, then letting them 

 fall back into the receptacle, care being taken not to let any one fall out. The 

 markings that are up decide the throw, precisely on the principle of our dice. As 

 they count, they take from the pile of thirty-two what they make, and when the pile 

 is exhausted the one having the greatest number wins the game. If all the white 



