66 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS _[ETH. Ann, 24 
a half-moon, etc. They call these figures pagessanag (carved plum stones), 
and the game has received its name from them. Each figure has a foot on 
which it can stand upright. They are all thrown into a wooden bowl (in 
Indian onagan), whence the French name is derived. The players make a hole 
in the ground and thrust the bowl with the figures into it while giving it a 
slight shake. The more figures stand upright on the smooth bottom of the bowl 
through this shake, all the better for the player. Each figure has its value, 
and some of them represent to a certain extent the pieces in the game of chess. 
There are also other figures, which may similarly be called the pawns. The 
latter, carved into small round stars, are all alike, have no pedestal, but are 
red on one side and plain on the other, and are counted as plus or minus 
according to the side uppermost. With the pawns it is a perfect chance which 
side is up, but with the pieces much depends on the skill with which the bowl 
is Shaken. The other rules and mode of calculation are said to be very com- 
plicated, and the game is played with great attention and passion. My Indians 
here will lie half the night through round the bowl and watch the variations 
of the game. It is played with slight divergences by nearly all the Indian _ 
tribes, and in many both men and women practise it. How seriously they 
regard the game and how excited they grow over it I had an opportunity of 
noticing. Some time ago I seated myself by some Indians who were playing 
at pagessan. One of them was a very handsome young fellow, wearing broad 
silver rings on his arms, the carving of which I was anxious to inspect. On 
turning to him with a question, however, he grew very impatient and angry 
at this interruption of the game, considered my question extremely imperti- 
nent, and commenced such a threatening speech that my interpreter could not 
be induced to translate it to me. He merely said it was most improper, and 
then began, for his part, abusing the Indian, so that I had great difficulty 
in appeasing him. AI] I understood was that an Indian must not be disturbed 
when gambling. 
Curerewa. Michigan. 
Schoolcraft “ describes the bowl game under the name of pugasaing 
as follows: 
This is the principal game of hazard among the northern tribes. It is played 
with thirteen pieces, hustled in a vessel called onigun, which is a kind of wooden 
bowl. They are represented and named as follows: 
The pieces marked no. 1 in this cut [figure 47], of which there are two, are 
called ininewug, or men. They are made tapering or wedge-shaped in thick- 
ness, so as to make it possible, in throwing them, that they may stand on their 
base. Number 2 is called gitshee kenabik, or the great serpent. It consists 
of two pieces, one of which is fin-tailed, or a water serpent, the other trun- 
eated, and is probably designated as terrestrial. They are formed wedge- 
shaped, so as to be capable of standing on their bases lengthwise. Each has 
four dots. Number 3 is called pugamaégun, or the war club. It has six marks 
on the handle on the red side, and four radiating from the orifice of the club 
end, and four marks on the handle of the white side, and six radiating marks 
from the orifice on the club end, making ten on each side. Number 4 is called 
keego, which is the generic name for a fish. The four circular pieces of brass, 
* Oneéta, or Characteristics of the Red Race of America, p. 85, New York, 1845. See 
also, Information respecting the History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes 
of the United States, pt. 2, p. 72, Philadelphia, 1853. 
