94 



THE MUSEUM. 



able to strike so perfectly the core of 

 the community? Was this the mission 

 of the Pileated Woodpecker, to keep 

 the black ant, which is a great des- 

 troyer of old and heavy timber, in 

 check.'' 



— Elaborated from notes read at the 

 last meeting of the Ohio State .-\ead- 

 cmv of- Seience at Columbus, Oliio. 



E W. ViCKERS. 



Klickitat Indian Dice. 



Recently it was ni)- p;ood foitune to 

 come into possession of a set of four 

 Klickitat Indian dice which are very 

 rare, and in fact the only ones I can 

 find any trace of. I obtained them 

 from a friend living in Oregon, who 

 had procured them froin a full-blood 

 Klickitat Squaw, a member of the 

 great western tribe, the Nez Perces. 



The substance of the information 

 concerning them was given to me as 

 follows: The squaw he obtained thtm 

 from was of a more garrulous nature 

 than those of her tribe usually are, 

 therefore she explained in great detail 

 how the game was played. Her hus- 

 band, who is a Cowlitz, verified her 

 statements The dice are four in 



number and are made of the incisors 

 of the Beaver. The two marked with 

 five spots are the Queens and the two 

 with only one spot and the cross lines 

 are the Kings; one side of each is 

 blank. The ends are plugged with bits 

 of wood and bound with sinew. 



In playing the game, as many may 

 participate as is agreed on, each tak- 

 ing their cast in turn. A soft skin of 

 blanket is used to throw them on, and 

 one cast determines the player's luck, 

 unless there is a tie and then another 

 cast is taken to decide who is winner. 

 The highest cast is four blanks. 



Three blanks and King. 



Three Kings and Oueen. 



Two Kings and two Queens. 



Two Kings and two blanks. 



Two Queen and two blanks. 



Two Kings and one Queen and 

 blank. 



Two Queens, one King and one 

 blank. 



Two blanks, one King and one 

 Queen. 



The throws are given in their rela- 

 tive value, the first being the highest 

 and graduating down to the lowest — 

 two blanks, one King and one Queen 

 — which counts nothing. The winner 

 of the stakes in each case takes first 

 throw in the next cast of the dice. 



The Squaw says she remembers see- 

 ing the game played when she was a 

 young girl, and that must have been a 

 long time ago as she is very old now. 



The gentlemen from whom I ob- 

 tained the dice says that he has been 

 unable to find any such gambling de- 

 vice mentioned in the Smithsonian re- 

 ports and as I have made diligent 

 search for information regarding any 

 other set that might be in existence 

 have been unsuccessful. I have good 

 reason to believe them a great rarity. 

 I have good proof of their authenticity. 

 Any information the readers of The 

 Museum may be able to give, con- 

 cerning any other set of these dice 

 will be highly appreciated by the pres- 

 ent owner of the set. 



Harry E. Spalding, 



Champaign, 111. 



Pearl Shells and 

 Novelties. 



Such as Shell Purses, Shell Boxes, Vine- 

 grettes. Pearl Penholders, Pearl Inkstands 

 made from Abilone Shell, Pearl Napkin Piiugs. 

 Pearl Match Safes, Pearl Shell Spoons (32 

 dill:erent styles). Pearl Lace Pins, Glove and 

 Button hooks. Pearl Shirt Waist Sets, Pearl 

 Ships. Vases, Pin Trays and other novelties. 

 In Shell Bozes such as Handkerchief Boxes, 

 Work Boxes, many styles Pin Cushions, Fan- 

 cy Boxes. Lounge. Dressers. Dog Kennel, Hand 

 Bags, Anchors. Looking Glasses. Hand Mir- 

 rors, Side Boards, Placijues, and dozens other 

 styles. Evcryon ■. who has seen these Shell 

 and Pearl Novelties know they are pretty. 

 All are imported, and notwithstanding heavy 

 duty can be sold reasonable. We do not soli- 

 cit retail trade. 



Those meaning business please apply for 

 wholesale prices on what you expect to buy, 

 stating what amount vou would probably or- 

 der at a time, as $10. $15, $25, $50. $100, etc. 

 Address, W. F. WEBB, Mgr., Albion, N. Y. 



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