496 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



Fig. 3. 



CHINESE TEETOTUM. 



(From specimen in the 

 museum of the University 

 of Pennsylvania. ) 



players place their stakes. It bears the iegeud ^jat fung, " unlike," 

 which expresses the desire of the banker as to the manner in which 

 the dice sliall fall. A player throws 8 dice. If at least 3 fall like the 

 number bet on, the gamekeeper pays him 8 times, or if G or more are 

 like the number bet on, 16 times the amount of his 

 stakes. In any other event, the player loses. A 

 similarly marked tablet is used in playing with the 

 chh' me, or teetotum (fig, 3). This implement is made 

 with G dotted sides. The players lay their stakes 

 upon the numbers on the tablet, and wia 4 times 

 the amount of their stakes if the one played on turns 

 uppermost, or lose, if another number comes up. 

 The ch^e me is said to have its sides decorated 

 sometimes with pictures of fish and animals instead 

 of numbers or spots, and the diagram, which is 

 called the c/i'J me p^di, or the • "tablet for the 

 teetotum," is then similarly inscribed (flg. 3).* 



CHONG UN CH'AU. 



CJiong ihi cWaii is a game played with tallies, ch'au, the highest of 

 which is called ehong iin, the name given the 02)timi(s at the examina- 

 tions for the degree of Hanliu, whence I have styled it "The Game of 

 the Chief of the Literati." (pi. 3.) Two or more persons may play, using 

 6 dice and 63 bamboo tallies. The latter receive the following names: 



First. One piece about G inches in length, called chong iin, the tirst 

 of the Hanlin doctors. This counts as 32. 



Second, Two shorter pieces called j^omj ngdn, second of the Hanlin, 

 f dm fa, third of the Hanlin. Each count as 16. 



Third. Four shorter pieces called ui iin, the First of the tsun sz\ or 

 literary graduates of the third degree. Each count as 8. 



Fourth. Eight shorter pieces called tsun zs\ literary graduates of the 

 third degree. Each count as 4. 



*A similar game from Mauila, Philippiue Islamls, in the United States National 

 Museum (Plate 2), consists of a cardboard with 6 equal divisious, with numbers, 

 represented by disks of colored paper, from 1 to 6; a hexagon-shaped top with num- 

 bers from 1 to 6, and a saucer in which to spin it. It is described by the collector, 

 Hon. Alex. R. Webb, United States Consul, under the name of prinola, as a popular 

 game in the market places with the native women. " Bets are placed on the spots on 

 the board, the top is spun rapidly in the saucer, and the winners are paid double the 

 amount of their bets. Only one number can win, of course the one corresponding 

 to that which turns up when the top stops turning, and the chances are therefore 

 quite largely in favor of the dealer." The name is evidently the Portuguese pirinola, 

 but the game is probably of Chinese or Indian origin. In India a 6-sided teetotum, 

 chuK-ree, identical with the Chinese, is used, and is turned like a top on a wooden or 

 china plate. " The stakes are placed on a board with 6 partitions, and the game is 

 decided on the settling of the die with a particular number uppermost. The play 

 of this game is allowed only during the Diwali festival, when gambling is sanc- 

 tioned as a religious observance," (Ms, catalogue of Indian games and toys pro- 

 cured for the Chicago exhibition. Provincial Museum, Lucknow, India.) 



