Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-31
How Indians Gamble.

In one Of the tall cases in the National
Museum are displayed various implements.
some of very rude and primitive work
manship, illustrating the games of chance
played among the North American In
dams. When the comprehensive plan of
the museum has been fully carried out,
the evolution of gambling from its rudest
forms to its highest development in the
intricate layout" Of a modern black-leg
will be fully illustrated by the exhibition
of the implements used. Among the most
curious Of the exhibits illustrating the
games of the savages are packs of playing
cards collected among the Apache Indians.
These cards are made of dried skins or
parchment, and are about the size Of the
ordinary playing cards in use in every
whist-playing family. The devices
upon them have been rudely drawn.
The numbers of the cards com
posing n pack and the character of
the devices indicate that they are of
Spanish origin. Professor Otis 7. Mason,
the curator of the section Of ethnology,
recently received from MIR. Romero. Mexi-
co, several packs of cards Of the kind
known as Barcelona cards. such as have
been in use among the Spaniards and the
BIexicans for many generations. The
Apache cards are rude limitations u the
Barcelona cards-spades, clubs, diamonds
and hearts The spade is sword, or cspd-
don the club is a veritable club or blud-
geon the heart is heart inclosed in an
urn, and the diamond gem or jewel rep
resented as set in the center Of n disc or
brooch of some kind. The spot cards
end with the sevens. the Fights mines and
tens not being included in the pack. In
the Apache cards the queen is represented
by female figure, rudely drawn, like the
frat effort of you'll, ftl mrs. ~
slate. The king isrepresented by figure
Of a man, and the jack or knight by man
on horseback.
These cards were found among the In
dians, said Professor Mason TO Star re-
porter when our exploring parties first
went among them. They undoubtedly got
them first from the Spaniards. They play
n number of games with them, some like
simple games that are played with our cards
= old maid muggins, and the like, and
they had game also like euchre. Now
they use cards such as we use, which they
have obtained from the settlers and others"
Here is a curious game" remarked the
Professor, pointing to little cube Of bone,
having a square hole through the center.
:" This is suspended by an elastic sinew
which keeps it bobbiDg up and down"
The game is to strike it with stick. When
man hits it, instead of taking up some
thing from the pawns he deposits some
thing on the pile. That gives the younger
or less expert players a chance The man
who makes a hit goes into his house, and
gets some article, like coat or something
of that kind, which he throws upon the
heap composing the pawns or stakes This
goes on, until finally the man who has
made the most points takes all.
There is no game played by the Indians
in America continued the curator, ain
which the mind is brought to bear upon a
problem or has to study out the moves as
in chess or checkers There is no game in
which the player is expected to have men
tai skill. All the games are strictly games
of chance"
This game is something like the game
of jackstraws." he continued, pointing to
a collection of two dozen or more little |
round sticks, each having distinguishing |
figure carved or scratched upon it, These |
little sticks are shaken up under a mat or |
hat, and then dropped to the ground, still |
concealed by the hat or mat. Then the |
man who handles them. the dealer, takes |
out one stick at time handing them to |
the different players in turn. When they |
have all been dealt out, the man who has |
the best hand wins The man who has |
the chief takes the best or most valuable |
article; the man who has the next highest |
takes his choice next, and so on. II Wash |
ington Star.