116 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS  [eru. ann. 24 
The prize contended for was that of victory; and it belonged, not to the 
iriumphant players, but to the party which sent them forth to the contest. 
When these games were not played by one community against another, upon 
a formal challenge, the people arranged themselyes upon two sides according to 
their tribal divisions. By an organic provision of the Iroquois, as elsewhere 
stated, the Wolf, Bear, Beaver, and Turtle tribes were brothers to each other as 
tribes, and cousins to the other four. In playing their games they always went 
together and formed one party or side. In the same manner the Deer, Snipe, 
Heron, and Hawk tribes were brothers to each other, as tribes, and cousins to 
the four first named. These formed a second or opposite party. Thus in all 
Indian games, with the exceptions first mentioned, the people divided them- 
selves into two sections, four of the tribes always contending against the other 
four. Father and son, husband and wife, were thus arrayed in opposite ranks. 
Betting upon the result was common among the Iroquois. As this practice 
was never reprobated by their religious teachers, but on the contrary, rather 
encouraged, it frequently led to the most reckless indulgence. It often hap- 
pened that the Indian, gambled away every valuable article which he possessed ; 
his torhahawk, his medal, his ornaments, and even his blanket. The excitement 
and eagerness with which he watched the shifting tide of the game was more 
uncontrollable than the delirious agitation of the pale face at the race course, or 
even at the gaming table. Their excitable temperament and emulous spirits 
peculiarly adapted them for the enjoyment of their national games. 
These bets were made in a systematic manner, and the articles then deposited 
with the managers of the game. <A bet offered by a person upon one side, in the 
nature of some valuable article, was matched by a similar article or one of 
equal value by some one upon the other. Personal ornaments made the usual 
gaming currency. Other bets were offered and taken in the same manner, 
until hundreds of articles were sometimes collected. These were laid aside 
by the managers until the game was decided, when each article lost by the 
event was handed over to the winning individual, together with his own, which 
he had risked against it. 
Seneca. Grand River reserve, Ontario. 
Mr David Boyle ® says: 
It is only in connection with the midwinter and fall festivals that the prac- 
tice of public gambling is permitted. On these occasions there is high revelry. 
All the goods collected as stakes by the six men already mentioned are piled 
in one or two heaps, the articles being tied or pinned in pairs with some regard 
to their respective values or uses. Thus, there may be two silk neckties, two 
pairs of moceasins, two shawls, or two strings of onagorha (wampum), which 
is regarded as taking first place at such times. 
The Old Men? of the nation appoint two men, one from each side of the long 
house, to call out the male players, and, similarly, two women for a like purpose. 
A sheet is spread on the floor of the long house, and in the middle of this 
sheet rests the wooden bowl, about 14 or 16 inches wide and 4 to 5 deep, 
containing six peach stones rubbed down to smooth surfaces and blackened 
on one side. Near the south edge of the sheet is placed a vessel containing 100 
« Archeological Report, 1898, p. 126, Toronto, 1898. 
®’ The pagan Indians when supplyling information make frequent mention of the “ Old 
Men,’ who are not, as would appear, any old men, but certain seniors who, either tacitly 
or by arrangement, are looked upon as sages. There are six of them; three represent 
the east end of the long house and three the west. The present Old Men are John Styres, 
Abraham Buck, and James Vanevery for the east. and Johnson Williams, Seneca Wil- 
liams, and Jacob Hill for the west. Gentes are not taken into account. 
