lOf) INDIAN GAMES. 



tory ill which it was domesticated, as additional evidence 

 of the extent of the intercourse which prevailed among 

 the native tribes of this country. 



PLATTEK OR DICE. 



The second in the list of games given by Father Bre- 

 benf is that which he calls "platter." Writers who des- 

 cribe the habits of the Indians at the north have much to 

 say concerning this game. According to Lescarbot, Jac- 

 ques Cartier saw it played, and recorded his observations.^^ 



Sagard Theodat ^^ devotes considerable space to it. 

 Both Father Brebeuf, in his Relation in 1636, and Father 

 Lalemant, in his Relation in 1639, give long accounts of 

 the game, the causes for its being played, the excesses in 

 gamljling to wdiich it leads, and the methods which pre- 

 vail in its practice. In PerrotV^ work there is a good de- 

 scription of the game, although not so full as his account 

 of lacrosse, from which we have already quoted. La 

 Potherie and Lallontan barely mention it. Lafitau^' in 

 his searching analysis of the manuscripts deposited at Que- 

 bec, while seeking for traces of his theory that a resem- 

 blance existed between the habits of the Indians and those 

 of the ancient dwellers in eastern Europe, found an un- 

 usual quantity of material bearing on this particular topic, 

 which he has reproduced in his book. Charlevoix*", in 

 a letter dated June 8, 1721, says, "As I was returning 

 through a quarter of the Huron village, I perceived a num- 

 ber of these Indians, who seemed much heated at play. I 



3« Histoire de la Nouvelle Fiance par Marc Lescarbot, Nouvelle Edition, Paris 

 186G, Vol. Ill, p. 754. 



" Histoire du Canada, etc., par Gabriel Sagard Theodat; Nouvelle Edition, 

 Paris, 1806, Vol. I, pp. 243-'244. 



s> p. 50. 



3» Mojurs des Sauvages Amcriquaius, etc., par le P. Lafitau, Paris, 17-i, Vol. 

 II, p. 339. 



«» Vol. Ill, pp. 260-1. 



