168 IN THE OLD WEST 



game of " hand," the stakes, comprising all the 

 valuables the players possess, are piled in two 

 heaps close at hand, the winner at the conclusion 

 of the game sweeping the goods towards him, and 

 often returning a small portion " on the prairie," 

 with which the loser may again commence opera- 

 tions with another player. 



The game of " hand " is played by two per- 

 sons. One, who commences, places a plum or 

 cherry stone in the hollow formed by joining the 

 concaved palms of the hands together ; then, shak- 

 ing the stone for a few moments, the hands are 

 suddenly separated, and the other player must 

 guess which hand now contains the stone. 



Large bets are often wagered on the result of 

 this favorite game, which is also often played by 

 the squaws, the men standing round encouraging 

 them to bet, and laughing loudly at their gro- 

 tesque excitement. 



A Burnt-wood Sioux, Tah-tunganisha, one of 

 the bravest chiefs of his tribe, was out, when a 

 young man, on a solitary war expedition against 

 the Crows. One evening he drew near a certain 

 " medicine " spring, where, to his astonishment, he 

 encountered a Crow warrior in the act of quench- 

 ing his thirst. He was on the point of drawing 

 his bow upon him, when he remembered the sacred 

 nature of the spot, and making the sign of peace, 

 he fearlessly drew near his foe, and proceeded 

 likewise to slake his thirst. A pipe of kinnik- 



