CULIN] DICE GAMES: MICMAC 5 
forward half of an arrow, and three notched sticks, each presenting half of 
the rear end of an arrow. These last four are about 8 inches long. Three 
of the plain sticks form a count of 1 point; the notched sticks have a value 
of 5 points; while the king pin varies in value, being used as a fifty-second 
plain stick, except when it stands alone in the general pile; then it has, like 
the notched sticks, a 
value of 5 points. Thus 
the possible points of 
the count are 17 (one- 
third of fifty-one) on 
the plain sticks, and 15 
(five times three) on the 
three notched sticks, a 
total of 32; but by a 
complex system the 
count may be extended 
indefinitely. In playing 
the game two players 
sit opposite each other, 
their legs crossed in 
a characteristic manner, 
and the dish, or woltés, Fia. 62, Platter for dice; diameter, 11} inches; Micmac Indians, 
Nova Scotia; cat. no. 18850, Free Museum of Science and Art, 
University of Pennsylvania. 
between them usually 
placed on a thick piece 
of leather or cloth. A squaw keeps the score on the counting sticks [figures 63, 
64], which at first lie together. The six dice are placed on a dish with their 
marked faces down; one of the players takes the dish in both hands, and raises 
it an inch or two from the ground, and brings it down again with considerable 
force, thus turning the dice. If all but one of the upturned faces are marked or 
unmarked, he repeats the toss and continues to do so as long as one of these com- 
Fig. 63. Counting sticks for dice; length, 7} inches; Micmac Indians, Nova Scotia; cat. no. 18850, 
Free Museum of Science and Art, University of Pennsylvania. 
binations results. When he fails to score, the amount of his winnings is with- 
drawn from the general pile and forms the nucleus of his private pile. His oppo- 
nent repeats the dice-throwing until he also fails to score. Two successive throws 
of either a single point or of 5 points count thrice the amount of one throw— 
that is, 3 points or 15 points, respectively. Three successive throws count five 
pin is nandaymelgawasch and for the wives tkOémwoowaal, both of which names mean, 
they say, ‘it counts five’ and ‘they count five. Nan is the Miemae for ‘5,’ but no 
numeral of which I know appears in the second name.’ Mr Hagar regards the polyga- 
mous element in the game as a good indication of its antiquity, if, he adds, “such 
indeed be necessary.’ Referring to the passes described by Mrs W. W. Brown, in her 
paper on the games of the Wabanaki Indians, he says: ‘* These passes are made by 
the Micmac in woltést6mkw6n by passing the right hand rapidly to the left over the 
dish, and shutting it exactly as if catching a fly." Wedding ceremonies among the 
Micmac were celebrated by the guests for four days thereafter. On the first day they 
danced the serpent dance, on the second they played football (tooad ik), on the third 
day they played lacrosse (madijik), on the fourth, woltéstomkwon, 
