CHESS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 



835 



From the fact of the nyout numerals beiog in all probability derived 

 from an Ural-Altaic stock, their correspondence with the dice words 

 would seem to support Canon Isaac Taylor's ' theory of the I Tgric origin of 

 the Etruscans. It should be observed, however, that if the words stand 

 for numerals they are not paired^ in either of the ways (1 + 3, 2 4- 4, 

 5 + 6, or 1 + 2, 3 + -1, 5 + C) in which Etruscan dice are marked.' 

 The doubt as to their being numerals is reinforced by the Korean die 

 inscribed with the x>rayer to Buddha (p. 821). 



20. Sai. Dice/ Japan. Pair of plaster dice for Sugoroku (Ko. 28). 



Japanese dice are similar to those of China, from which country they 

 were doubtless borrowed. The "fours" are sometimes, but not invari- 

 ably, marked in red. The 

 most popular game is 

 SugoroJcti (No. 28). 



Before leaving the sub- 

 ject of dice it may be ob- 

 served that cubical dot- 

 ted dice do not appear 

 to have been known to 

 the American tribes be- 

 fore the time of the con- 

 quest. At the same time 

 mention should be made 

 of a die of steatite found 

 with Indian remains at 

 Kiokee Creek, Columbia 

 County, Georgia, in the 

 collection of Dr. Roland 

 Steiner, in the United States National Museum (Cat. No. 172563). It 

 consists of a rudely cut square prism of steatite about j inch in length. 

 Two of the opposite longer sides are marked with six and four pits and 

 two with five and three. One of the ends has two and the other what is 

 doubtless intended for one dot. The pips are irregularly disposed. It 

 no doubt dates from the time of white contact. 



'Etruscan Researches, London, 1874. 



"" Mach is opposite Zal, Thu is opposite Huth, and Ki is opposite Sa." Robert 

 Ellis, Etrnscan Numerals, London, 1876. 



■ Since the above was written the writer has acquired an Etruscan triplicate bone 

 die (fig. 153) found in Chiusi or its vicinity, on which the dots are arranged differ- 

 ently from any thus far noticed by him. The 6 is here opposite the 4, and 5 oppo- 

 site 3. One o^ the ends is marked 1 and the other 2. The spots are marked with 

 small dotted circles which retain traces of red paint. It has been suggested that 

 these triplicate dice, which are not infrequent, are unfinished and have yet to 

 be sawed ajiart. It is evident from this specimen that such is not the case. They 

 bear a strong general resemblance to the liamala pdsd, or dice used in fortune- telling, 

 among which we find three cubical dice united by a metal bar, and again, in auothor 

 variety used in India, the same arrangement of spots: 3, 4, 5, 6 on a long die. (See 

 p. 824.) 



^Cat. No. 7143, Mas. Arch., Univ. Penu. 



Fig. 153. 



ETRUSCAN TRIPLICATE DIE. 



Length, 3J inches. 

 Chiubi. 



Museum of Archeeology, University of Pennsylvani: 



