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contraction des tendons humides. Mais mes gens, mis en belle humeur par ce ph^nomdne 
naturel dont ils ignoraient la cause et qu’ils attribuaient k la puissance de Fours, s’6cri6rent 
avec ravissement: 
'Vois-tu, Pere, vois-tu comme Fours se filche? II est irrit6 de ce chant qui lui donne 
le change sur les auteurs de sa mort.’ 
Et ils continu&rent leur danse de plus belle, en se frappant le derriere avec la patte de 
Fours. Ils ne purent m'expliquer si cette percussion de la fesse est un signe de deuil ou 
d’alldgresse.” 
A few years ago, it is said, a couple who had recently died appeared 
at a dance. They told the people that it was good to give one’s partner 
a present and that this should be done without any feeling of loss. Thus 
the gift-dance tvas inaugurated. Each man and woman picks a partner 
and they dance in rows of four around the fire. When the dance is over, 
the one who did the choosing gives his partner a present which may vary 
from a match to a house, according to the feeling and wealth of the indi- 
vidual. Silk handkerchiefs are probably the most commonly given 
article. It is said that those who really know the dance never return 
the same present. It is truly surprising how much emotional enthusiasm 
may be aroused by the performance of such a dance continuing for an 
indefinite length of time. In the winter when ten or fifteen families 
gather in the single room of a cabin where the noise of the heated drums 
is deafening, individuals work themselves almost into a frenzy. The 
room will become hot and the dancers drip with perspiration. Some 
rest while others dance, and children sleep on the floor in the corners. 
Laughter and talking are lost in the thunder of the drums. Old men with 
grey hair sit quietly on boxes watching the others, until one will rise and 
seriously lead a dance with some old and individual variations, thus 
gaining obvious respect and admiration from the crowd. Then he retires 
to his box and adds smoke to the already unbreathable air. It is on such 
nights as these that the Satudene are glad. 
Gambling and Games. The Satudene are exceedingly fond of gambling. 
In recent years, playing cards have been substituted for the primitive 
forms of gambling, the games played being either rummy or a very much 
simplified poker. 
Uclzi is the tribal form of the widely spread guessing game. Four 
men usually played on a side, each one concealing a short stick in either 
the right or left palm. One man of the opposing side was chosen to decide 
which hands held the sticks and his choice was signified by gestures made 
with his thumbs. While this was in progress, drums were beaten and 
songs sung. As each side was outguessed, ten counting sticks passed 
back and forth until all were won by either party. 
The ecagoo, or ring and pin game, was known among the Satudene, 
both as a gambling game and as a toy. One specimen was made of five 
conical bones from the foot of a caribou, strung on a string, at one end 
of which was a piece of tanned caribou skin, and at the other a sort of 
needle about 3 inches long. The object of the game was to catch as many 
of the cones upon the needle as possible, each one hooked being worth 
so many points. There were also holes in the skin at the end which, 
if caught, had a certain value. The Indians no longer play this game, 
and although recognizing it as something which was formerly a part of 
their culture, do not remember how the score was counted. Russell 
