112 LIFEINTHE FAR WEST. 



belong to the great Sioux nation, or La-cotahs, as they call them- 

 selves, and which means cut-throats. There were also some 

 Cheyennes allied to the Sioux, as well as a small band of Re- 

 publican 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 among themselves. When playing at the usual 

 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 toward 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 shak- 

 ing the stone for a few moments, the hands are suddenly sepa- 

 rated, 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 stand- 

 ing 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 solitary war expe- 

 dition 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 fear- 

 lessly 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. 



