The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-11-10
From the Baltimore Gazette.
THE INDIAN GAMBLERS.

AZ tle World, considering their means
One would be astoDished to witness thei
stakes. | have seen them sit success
I've hours, sometimes days, at their games
alternately winning and losing, until one O
them rose, stripped of a II mis- wealth, horses
gun, and every thing. This would be call
ed rum by the civilized world but i
causes TO despair or suicide with them
and all that an observer could perceive is, {
little mortified pride at his defeat. The
young squaws having more leisure are
more constant gamblers than the men.
have seen sqdaw pull ornament after Or
nament from her arms, bead after beat
from her neck, and breach after broact
from her bosom until she had lost the game
and then probably pawn her cloths 70,
another game. The greatest game that
ever heard of however, was between a
Crow and Cheyenne, tribes residing on
the upper Missouri About four wears
since, the Crows and Chayennes were, as
they have almost always been, at war. Par
ties were continually roaming in search Of
favorable opportunities to strike with sue
cess and with as little risk as possible. II
/ happened that two hostile parties were en-
camped, without the knowledge of either
near each other. They had both been out
long time, and had no signs of an enc
my, and of course became considerably
discouraged.
After a little reflection, and within day
or two OF the same time, both parties re-
solved to return to their respective tribes.
1t happened also, that one of each party re-
fused to return. These men were left by
their respective comrades in the mountains
near Powder River and for the two follow.
ing days they remained near where they
were left. On the third day, and near
night talk they had selected their lodging
place near each other, still ignorant of their
vicinity. The Cheyenne was going down
ana the Crow up ravine that gradually de-
scended at that place towards the river.
The former laid himself down among the
rocks IN the bottom of the ravine but the
latter thinking from the appearance of the
sky that 1T would rain, and knowing how
the water rushed in torrents down these
ravines crawled up its side, and there under
the shelter of friendly rock arranged
himself for repose. AS the Grow expected,
one of those sudden and tremendous show
ers, common to the country, came on; he
however lay unmolested by it. Not so
with the Cheyenne hearing che roar of
himself from being washed away or dashed
to death against the rocks by CROPPING out a
passage up the side, hardly knowing in the
dark whether he was going to safety or
destruction.
After feelisg around and managing to
get about one hundred yards from where
the water had driven him, he came acct
dentally to the rock which sheltered the
Crow. In endeavoring to ascertain its po-
sition from the grounI, he placed his hand
upon the bare shoulder of his enemy. As
it may be expected, they both started, the
one back, and the other up, with their usu-
al exclamation oc surprise" VIVA p said
they, as they stood gazing, and lightning
up their gaze with fire oftheir own eyeballs
What is very unusual among Indians on
war party, they were both taken by surprise,
both unprepared, and both too, searching
for enemies. The night was very dark the
ground precipitous and uneven, and both
were hesitating what TO do, not knowing
but each had friends close at hand. Al
length the Cheyenne made signs that he
would lie down for the night and that in
the morning they should try their proves.
1t was arranged, and two brave and mortal
foes, until that instant, lay down side by
side under the same rock. | question if
either slept; still they continued in their
recumbent posture till morning came, and
both, assured of their novel situation,
laughed at its sngularity from laugh
they began their signs, and at length de-
termined, that as neither allowed the other
to be the hravest tribe in the world, they
would not fight, but would try their strength
or skill in gambling.
They commenced and the game continu-
ed fiuctuailng for sometime, until after
about two hours the Crow won all the arms,
provisions and clothes of the Cheyenne, or
to express it more fully, the Cheyenne
! stood before him clothed only as by nature
at his birth. After standing few moments
in thought, he arrested the progress of the
! Crow in packing his winnings by saying
1 he would stake his scalp. The Crow O
course eagerly engaged, thinking probably
1t was cheap way to acquire such Il
( trophy but fortune favored the brave, and
from that instant the Cheyenne commence
ed winning. He continued until he hat
not only won back all his own hut all the
Crow had, leaving him as destitute as the
! Cheyenne was short time before. He
could do no less than his antagonist hat
done. The Crows scalp was now at stake
Both were anxious, and both played eau
tiously. 1t would not do, the Grow lost hi;
scalp, and the Cheyenne proceeded very
deliberately to take it off. The operation
was completed aud the Crow was pronounc
ed the greatest brave in existence.
! After some little conversation, pIasine
each other, (all by signs) they separated
under the promise of again playing, should
they ever meet, at the same time assuring
each other, that they would strive to bring
the tribes or parts of each together.
In about three months, true to theil
promise, they met, the Indians conserving
to the meeting for the purpose Of witnessing
such a game. Again they played, lost ant
won alternately for some time, both bette
guarded as to their scalps than before, the
one having none and the other largt
quantity of things to lose before his woulC
nj nj. l.,