GAMES AND DANCING. 263 
The most depraving agencies employed to 
this end are the ministration of intoxicating 
drinks, and gaming, of both which the Indians 
_are passionately fond, and by which they are 
‘frequently robbed of their money as soon al- 
most as received. 
Apart from the usual games at cards, dice, 
etc., the Indians of the border have some pecu- 
liar games of their own, as well at cards as other- 
wise. Among these the most celebrated is 
the ‘ Ball Play’, which resembles, in some re- 
spects, the old-fashioned game of bandy. The 
wagers are usually laid upon beating the ma- 
Jority of a given number, a dozen or more of 
ese games; and large amounts in horses, 
reer and other goods, and even money, 
are frequently staked upon the result. 
Besides the ball play, dancing is a most fa- 
vorite amusement of these tribes, indeed of | 
all the frontier as well as prairie Indians. 
They formerly had many kinds of dances,— 
the green-corn dance, the medicine, the eagle, 
the scalp and the war dances. But these are 
now only practised by the ruder portions of 
the border nations and the less improved 
tribes; among whom may still be witnessed 
frequently their genuine aboriginal frolics. 
The green-corn dance generally lasts seve- 
cash; whereupon he delivered up the obnoxious ‘ papers,’ and 
agreed to abscond. Some notice of the facts of this case are said 
to have been pasa to the Leowbeies of the Government ; oe 
how it has escaped an investigation—and, more especially, 
it escaped the attention of a Superintendent of that immediate 
district, have been matters of great surprise to those who 
knowledge of the csatiecia: 
~ 
