LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 93 



Broken Arrows, all of which belong to the great Sioux 

 nation, or La-cotahs, as they call themselves, and which 

 means Cut-throats. There were also some Cheyennes al- 

 lied to the Sioux, as well as a small band of Republican 

 Pawnees. 



Horse -racing, gambling, and ball -play served to pass 

 away the time until the trade commenced, and many 

 packs of dressed robes changed hands amongst them- 

 selves. When playing at the usual game of " hand" 

 the stakes, comprising all the valuables the players pos- 

 sess, 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 operations with 

 another player. 



The game of " hand " is played by two persons. One, 

 who commences, places a plum or cherry stone in the 

 hollow formed by joining the concaved palms of the hands 

 together ; then, shaking 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 favour- 

 ite game, which is also often played by the squaws, the 

 men standing round encouraging them to bet, and laughing 

 loudly at their grotesque excitement. 



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

 chiefs of his tribe, was out, when a young man, on a soli- 

 tary 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 quenching 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-kinnik being produced, it was 

 proposed to pass away the early part of the night in a 

 game of " hand." They accordingly sat down beside the 

 spring and commenced the game. 



Fortune favoured the Crow. He won arrow after arrow 



