568 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ann. 46 



is entitled to a successive throw. By much practice they are able to 

 count the number turned up at a glance and the principles of the 

 game being stated on the drawing, we will now describe how it is 

 carried on. It has been observed in these pages in reference to their 

 gambling that it is much fairer in its nature than the same as carried 

 on by the whites and this is worthy of attention, inasmuch as it 

 shows how the loser is propitiated so that the game may not result 

 in quarrel or bloodshed, as is often the case. 



The game is mostly played by the soldiers and warriors, and each 

 must feel equal to the other in courage and resolution. It is often 

 kept up for two or three days and nights without any intermission, 

 except to eat, until one of the parties is ruined. 



Example. — A plays against B; each puts up a knife, and they 

 throw alternately until 100 is counted by the dice; say A wins. B 

 now puts up his shirt against the two knives, which is about equal in 

 value; say A wins again. B then stakes his powder horn and some 

 arrows against the whole of A's winnings. Should B now win, the 

 game commences again at the beginning, as A would only have lost 

 a knife ; but supposing A wins. B now puts up his bow and quiver 

 of arrows against all A has won — the stakes are never withdrawn but 

 let lie in front of them. Say A again wins. B then stakes his 

 blanket and leggings, which are about equal in value to all A has 

 won, or if not, it is equalized by adding or subtracting some article. 

 Supposing A again to be winner, he would then be in possession of 

 2 knivfcs, 1 shirt, 1 blanket, 1 powder horn, 1 bow and quiver of 

 arrows, and 1 pair leggings, the whole of which the Indians would 

 value at 8 robes. B now stakes his gun against all the above of A's 

 winnings. Now if A again wins he only retains the gun, and the 

 whole of the rest of the jDroperty won by A returns to B, but he is 

 obliged to stake it all against his gun in possession of A, and play 

 again. If A wins the second time he retains the whole and B now 

 puts up his horse against all of A's winnings, including the gun. 



A wins, he retains only the horse, and the gun and everything 

 else reverts again to B, he being obliged to stake them again against 

 the horse in A's possession. If A wins this time, he keeps the whole; 

 but if B wins, he only gets back the horse and gun, and all the rest 

 of the property goes to A. Supposing B again loses and continues 

 losing until all his personal property has passed into the hands of 

 A, then B. as a last resort, stakes his wife and lodge against all his 

 property in the hands of A. If A wins he only keeps the woman; 

 the horse, gun, and all other property returns again to B with the 

 understanding, however, that he stakes it all to get back his wife. 

 Now if B loses he is ruined ; but if A loses he gives up only the 

 woman and the horse, continuing the play with the rest of the 

 articles against the horse until one or the other is broke. 



