Litchfield enquirer., 1848-09-21
Life i'm the Far Wesk

Horse-racing, gambling, and ball-play, SER
we'd to pass away the time until the trsdecom-
menced. and many packs of robes changed
hands amongst themselves. When playing at
the USUAL game Of "hand," the stakes, com.
prising all the valuables the players possess,
are piled in two heaps close at hand, the wins
ner atthe conclusion Of the game sweeping the
goods towards him, and often returning small
portion ''on the PRAIRIE" with which the loser
may again commence operations with another
player.
The game OF "hand'' is played by two per-
sons. One, who commences. places plum
or cherry -stone in the hollow formed by join
ing the conceived palms Of the hands together,
then shaking the stone for few moments.
the hands are suddenly separated, and the 9TH
er player must guess which hand now contains
the stone.
Large bets are often wagered on the result
Of this favorite game, which is often played by
The squaws, the men standing round encoura-
ging them TO bet. and laughing loudly at their
groiesque excitement. -
A Brentwood Sioux, Tah-tungahisha, and
one of the bravest chiefs of his tribe, when a
young man, was out on solitary war expedi.
ton against the Crows. One evening he drew
near certain "medicine" spring, where. to
his astonishment, he encountered Crow war.
rior in the act of quenching his thirst. He
was on the point Of drawing his bow upon him
when he remembered the sacred nature OF The
spot. and making the sign Of peace, he fearless.
ly drew near his foe, and proceeded likewise
10 slake his thirst. A pipe of kinnik kinnik
being produced, it was proposed to pass away
the early part Of the night in game Of 'hand.'
They accordingly sat down beside the spring,
and commenced the game.
Fortuae favored the Crow. He won arrow
after arrow from the Bufnt>wood Brave p; then
his bow, his club, his knife, his robe, all fol-
lowed, and tho Sioux sat naked on the plain.
Still he proposed another stake against the
others winning-his scalp. He played, and
lost and bending forward his head, the Crow
warrior drew his knife and quickly removed
the bleeding prize. Without a murmur the
luckless warrior rose to depart but first exact
ed a promise from his antagonist. that he would
meet him once more al the same spot, and en-
gage in another trial of skill. el
On the day appointed, the Burnt-wOOd
sought the spot, with a new equipment, and
again the Crow made his appearance. and they
sat down 10 play. This time fortune changed
sides, and the Sioux won back mis- former los
ses. and in his turn the Grow was stripped to
his skin.
Scalp against scalp was now the stake, and
and this time the Crow submitted his head to
the victorious Bnrnt- woods knife; and both
the warriors stood seslpless on the plain,
And now the Crow had but one single stake
of value to offer. and the offer Of it he did moi
hesitate TO make He staked his life against
! the Others winaings. They played; and for
tune stili being averse, he lost. He offered
his breast 10 HE savefsary. The Burnt>wood
plunged his knife into his heart 10 the hilt
and. laden with his spoils, returned to hts vii.
laye. and to this day wears suspended from his
ears HE own ard enemy's scalp.- Biaekwood's
Magazine. ..,..