ijS Jn Hijîorlcal Journal of 



been known to ftake their Liberty for a Time, which fully 

 proves their PafHon for this Game ; for there are no Men in the 

 World more jealous of their Liberty than the Savages. 



The Game of the Dijh, which they alfo call the Game of the 

 The Game of ^^^^^^ Bones, is only play'd by two Perfons : 

 the Difh f -^^^^ ^^^^ eight little Bones, which at 



Tv.T '-D^ ^ ^î'ft I took for Apricot Stones ; they are of 

 the little Bones. ^ ci, 2 t>' r jy . - - 



that Shape and Bignels : But upon viewing 



them clofely, I perceived that they had fix unequal Surfaces, thé 

 two principal of which are painted, one Black, and the other 

 White, inclining to Yellow. They make them jump up, by 

 fîriking the Ground, or the Table, with a round and hollow Difh, 

 which contains them, and which they twirl round firft. When 

 they have no Difh, they throw the Bones up in the Air with their 

 Hands : If in falling they come all of one Colour, he who plays 

 wins five r The Game is forty up, and they fubtradl the Num- 

 bers gained by the adverfe Party. Five Bones of the fame Co- 

 lour win but one for the firfl Time, but the fécond Time they 

 win the Game : A lefs Number wins nothing. 



He that wins the Game, continues playing : The Lofer gives 

 îiis Place to another, who is named by the Markers of his Side ; 

 for they make Parties at fird, and often the whole Village is con- 

 cern'din the Game : Oftentimes alfo one Village plays againft 

 ajiother. Each Party chufes a Marker; but he withdraws when he 

 pleafes, which never happens, but when his Party lofes. At 

 every Throw, efpecially if it happens to be decifive, they make 

 ^reat Shouts. The Players appear like People poffefied, and 

 the Spedators -are not more calm. They all make a thoufand 

 Contortions, talk to the Bones, load the Spirits of the adverfe 

 Party with Imprecations, and the whole Village echoes with 

 Howlings. If all this does not recover their Luck, the 

 jLofers may put off the Party till next Day : It coils them only 

 a irnall Treat to the Company. 



Then they prepare to return to the Engagement. Each in- 

 vokes his Genius, and throws fome Tobacco in the Fire to his 

 Honour. They afk him above all Things for lucky Dreams. 

 As foon as Day appears, they go again to Play ; but if the 

 liQkTs fancy that the Goods in their Cabins made them un- 

 lucky, the firll Thing they do is to change them all. The great 

 Parties commonly laft five or fix Days, and often continue all 

 Night. In the mean Time, as all the Perfons prefent, at leafl , 

 thofe who are concerned in the Game, are in an Agitation that 

 deprives tliem of Reafon, as they quarrel and fight, which ne- 

 ver happens among the Savages but on thefe Occafions, and in 

 Brunkennefs, one may judge, if when they have done playing 

 they do not want Reft* ' . 



It 



