276 GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS [eru. ann. 24 
Pawnee. Oklahoma. 
Dr George Bird Grinnell “ says: 
Perhaps no gambling game is so widespread and so popular as that known as 
“hands.” It consists in guessing in which of the two hands is held a small 
marked object, right or wrong guessing being rewarded or penalized by the 
gain or loss of points. The players sit in lines facing each other, each man 
betting with the one opposite him. The object held, which is often a small 
polished bone, is intrusted to the best player on one side, who sits opposite to 
the best player on the other. The wagers are laid—after more or less discus- 
sion and bargaining as to the relative value of things as unlike as an otter- 
skin quiver on one side and two plugs of tobacco, a yard of cloth, and seven 
cartridges on the other—and the game begins with a low song, which soon 
increases in volume and intensity. As the singers become more excited, the 
man who holds the bone moves his hands in time to the song, brings them 
together, seems to change the bone rapidly from hand to hand, holds their 
palms together, puts them behind his back or under his robe, swaying his body 
back and forth, and doing all he can to mystify the player who is about to try 
to choose the bone. The other for a time keeps his eyes steadily fixed on the 
hands of his opponent, and, gradually, as the song grows faster, bends forward, 
raises his right hand with extended forefinger above his head and holds it 
there, and at last, when he is ready, with a swift motion brings it down to a 
horizontal, pointing at one of the hands, which is instantly opened. If it 
contains the bone, the side which was guessing has won, and each man receives 
a stick from the opposite player. The bone is then passed across to the oppo- 
site side, the song is renewed, and the others guess. 
In a letter, referring to the hand game, Dr Grinnell writes: 
It is popular among all the northern tribes of which I have any knowledge 
and has a wide vogue in the west. I have seen it among the Arikara, Assini- 
boin, Grosventres of the Prairie, the three tribes of the Blackfoot Nation, 
Kootenai, Shoshoni, Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Pawnee. 
Wrenrra. Oklahoma. (Field Columbian Museum). 
Cat. no, 59316. Set of counting sticks for hand game (figure 357) ; 
Fic. 357. Counting sticks for hand game; length, 20 inches; Wichita Indians, Oklahoma; cat. 
no. 59316, Field Columbian Museum. 
«The Story of the Indian, p. 27, New York, 1898. 
