76 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS  [5TH. Ann. 24 
times as much as a single throw, ete. After the pile of counting sticks has been 
exhausted a new feature is introduced in the count. The player who scores 
first takes a single plain stick from his pile and places it by itself, with one of 
its sides facing him to represent 1 point, and perpendicular to this, either 
horizontally or vertically, to represent 5 points. 
He continues to add sticks thus as he continues to score. This use of sticks 
as counters to indicate unpaid winnings is a device for deferring further set- 
tlement until the game seems near its end, and also serves to increase the count 
indefinitely to meet the indefinite duration of the game, as after one player 
secures a token, his opponent, when he scores, merely reduces the former’s token 
pile by the value of his score. The reduction is effected by returning from the 
token pile to the private pile the amount of the opponent’s score; hence at 
any time the token pile represents the amount of advantage which its owner 
has obtained since the last settlement. These settlements are made when: 
ever either party may desire it. This, however, is supposed to be whenever 
one player’s token pile seems to represent a value approaching the limit of his 
opponent’s ability to pay. If his opponent should permit the settlement to be 
deferred until he were no longer able to pay his debts, then he would lose the 
game to the first player; whereas, if one player, after the settlement, retains 
five plain sticks, but not more, 
a new feature is introduced, 
which favors him. If, while 
| iis a eee ———————__ | retaining his five sticks, he 
ean score 5 points before his 
f eRe ee opponent scores at all, he wins 
the game in spite of the 
ed much greater amount of his 
opponent’s winnings up to 
Fia. 64. Counting sticks for dice; length 7} inches; Mic- that point. If his opponent 
mac Indians, Nova Scotia; cat. no. 18850, Free Museum : 
of Science and Art, University of Pennsylvania. 
scores 1 point only before 
he obtains his 5 points, he 
still has a chance, though a less promising one. After paying over the three 
plain sticks that represent a single point, two plain sticks still remain to him, he 
is then compelled to win 7 points before his opponent wins 1 or he forfeits the 
game; but if he succeeds in winning his 7 points the game is still his. How- 
ever, in these last chances he is further handicapped by the rule that he can 
at no time score more points than are represented in his private pile. Conse- 
quently, if with only five plain sticks in his possession, he could score only a 
single point, even if his toss should call for 5; but with six plain sticks he could 
score 2 points; with nine sticks, 8, etc. The last chances are: With only five 
plain sticks, 5 points are necessary to win; with four plain sticks, 5 points are 
necessary to win; with three sticks, 6 points; with two sticks, 7 points; with one 
stick, 7 points. There are two other minor rules: One, that in counting 5 points 
on the plain sticks four bundles of four each are given instead of the five bundles 
of three each, as one should expect; total 16. The other rule is that to count 6 
points we use a notched stick plus only two plain sticks, instead of three, as 
might be expected. 
Mr Hagar states that the preceding game was invented and taught 
by the hero Glooscap. They have also a similar game, called wobuna- 
runk,¢ which they say was invented and owned by Mikchikech—the 
turtle—one of Glooscap’s companions, to whose shell the dice bear 
some resemblance. 
«The account of wobunarunk is from a manuscript by Mr Hagar, which he courteously 
placed in my hands. 
