106 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS _ [ETH. ANN. 24 
Huron. Detroit, Michigan. 
Charlevoix * gives the following account : 
As [I returned through a quarter of the Huron village I saw a company of 
these savages, who appeared very eager at play. I drew near and saw they 
were playing at the game of the dish [jeu du plat]. This is the game of which 
these people are fondest. At this they sometimes lose their rest, and in some 
measure their reason. At this game they hazard all they possess, and many 
do not leave off till they are almost stripped quite naked and till they have 
lost all they have in their cabins. Some have been known to stake their lib- 
erty for a time, which fully proves their passion for this game, for there are 
no men in the world more jealous of their liberty than the savages. 
The game of the dish, which they also call the game of the little bones [jeu 
des osselets], is played by two persons only. Each has six or eight little 
bones, which at first I took for apricot stones—they are that shape and bigness. 
But upon viewing them closely I perceived they had six unequal surfaces, the 
two principal of which are painted, one black and the other white inclined to 
yellow. They make them jump up by striking the ground or the table with 
a round and hollow dish, which contains them and which they twirl round 
first. When they have no dish they throw the bones up in the air with their 
hands; if in falling they come all of one color, he who plays wins 5. The game 
is 40 up, and they subtract the numbers gained by the adverse party. Five 
hones of the same color win only 1 for the first time, but the second time they 
win the game. A less number wins nothing. 
He that wins the game continues playing. The loser gives his place to 
another, who is named by the markers of his side, for they make the parties at 
first, and often the whole village is concerned in the game. Oftentimes, also, 
one village plays against another. Each party chooses a marker, but he with- 
draws when he pleases, which never happens except when his party loses. At 
every throw, especially if it happens to be decisive, they set up great shouts. 
The players appear like people possessed, and the spectators are not more calm. 
They all make a thousand contortions, talk to the bones, load the spirits of the 
adverse party with imprecations, and the whole village echoes with howlings. 
If all this does not recover their luck, the losers may put off the party till the 
next day. It costs them only a small treat to the company. Then they pre- 
pare to return to the engagement. Each invokes his genius and throws some 
tobacco in the fire in his horfor. “They ask him above all things for lucky 
dreams. As soon as day appears they go again to play, but if the losers fancy 
the goods in their cabins made them unlucky, the first thing they do is to 
change them all. The great parties commonly last five or six days, and often 
continue all night. In the meantime, as all the persons present—at least, those 
who are concerned in the game—are in agitation that deprives them of reason, 
as they quarrel and fight, which never happens among savages but on these 
oceasions and in drunkenness, one may judge if. when they have done playing, 
they do not want rest. 
It sometimes happens that these parties of play are made by order of the 
physician or at the request of the sick. There is needed for this purpose 
nothing more than a dream of one or the other. This dream is always taken 
for the order of some spirit, and they prepare themselves for the game with a 
great deal of care. They assemble for several nights to make trial and to see 
who has the luckiest hand. They consult their genii, they fast, the married 
persons observe continence, and all to obtain a fayorable dream. Every morn- 
ing they relate what dreams they have had ahd all the things they have 
¢ Journal d’un Voyage dans l’Amérique Septentrionnale, y. 3, p. 260, Paris, 1744. 
