336 The Natural Historic 



they part and are tractable in their Hands. They are fifty 

 one in I^umber, and their length about seven Inches; when 

 they play they throw part to their Antagonist, the Art in 

 this kind of Game is to discover upon sight how many you 

 have, and what you throw to him that plays with you ; some 

 are so expert in guessing the J^umbers they gave, and what 

 they have remaining, that they will not miss once in ten 

 times ; they are so taken with this particular Game, that sev- 

 eral of them have lost large Indian Estates. A good Set of 

 these Reeds to play with, are generally valued and sold for a 

 dressed Doe-Skm. 



They have several other Games and Plays wherewith they 

 frequently divert themselves, as with the Kernels or Stones 

 of the Fruit of the Persimon Tree, which are in effect the 

 same as our Dice, because winning or loosing depend on 

 which side appears uppermost, and how they happen to fall 

 together. 



Their manner of playing Ball is after this manner, viz. 

 they place a square Mat made of Reeds or Bullrushes at the 

 top of a Tree eight or nine Fathom from the Ground, and 

 whoever hitteth the Mat in playing thereat, winneth the 

 Game. 



They have another Game which is managed with a Bai- 

 toon, and very much resembles our Trap-Ball ; as the l^ations 

 differ so do their Games and Pastimes, having several pe- 

 culiar to themselves which are not practiced by others ; yet 

 these I have mentioned are the chief that I have observed 

 amongst them. 



They are charitable and kind to each other, especially to 

 those of their own Nation ; for if any one of them has suffered 

 loss by Eire or otherwise, they order him to make a Feast 

 (their Victuals being in common) and to invite them all to 



it: 



