Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-31
THE BOSTON GAME.

Fifty years ago similar game was PLAYED by
boys in Boston with dice made of the money
cowry, cyprea moneta. The shells to the num-
Der of four were selected as nearly as possible
OF the same size and the backs ground down so
as TO expose the interior. The cavity thus made
was filled with red scaling wax. The game
was known as props" and the count was the
same as IN the Nishinam game with acorns, as
described by Powers. The shells as prepared.
or props were shaken in the hand and
dropped or cast from the hand with "A some
what twisted motion of the wrist as TO
scatter them little. When thrown if the
props turned up two sides one way and two the
other or two and two the count was one; this
was called a nick If all four came the same
side up the coune was four and called a
"brOwner;' If the shells or props fell three one
side and one the other it called an out
and the props were passed to tine next player.
The props continued with the same PLAYER
until he made an out, and the number TO make
game was agreed upon before the playing
commenced. Occasionally when the playing
or throwing was OH the ground shell would
stand or lodge OH one edge. Tins called a
cock, and the player WAS allowed to keep on,
the cock" not counting one way or the other
to his advantage or detriment.
IN THE HANDS OF GAMBLERS.
The game of props" was played by boys for
marbles. Subsequently it became an out and
money Cheating IN this simple game was
made possible and was practiced by filling the
cavity first with portion of sealing wax then
with some lead, then finally with wax. which
concealed the lead. With these so-called
loaded props the player could make a winning
throw nearly every time.
Professional gamblers carried two sets of
props, the better to deceive their victims. and
substituted a loaded set for fair or not loaded
set as opportunity gave them chance. Gam
Ding by professionals with props became so
common at one time that the law interviewed
and the game and Its Implements were made
unlawful and prohibited.
WHO ORIGINATED TIE GAME?
When we consider the fact that the Nishinam
game of ''ha" and the white mans game Of
props" are one and the same. differing only
in the character of the dice and in this respect
only in the material or objects of which the
dice were made. the question naturally arises
whether the games so played had a common or
separate origin.
1t will be noticed that the time referred to
of prop playing in Boston was many years
before the great migration to California in
l8iS. following the discovery of gold at suffer s
mill by Marshall in lS4S.
Returning to the questions: Did the pale
faces of the Atlantic side learn the game from
the red men OF the wess coas. Or vice versa!
Did the little invention have a separate and i'll
dependent birth III each of these widely remote
regions? The fact of commercial intercourse
between the people or individuals of these re-
gions fifty years before the prop" playing date
III Boston warrants the deduction that the
knowledge of the game borrowed of one
party from the other, and also argues by i'm
plcatlon against the presumption OF independ-
ent origin
THE CRUISE OF THE COLUMBIA.
On the 9Th of June, 1871, we are told. the ship
Columbia, from Boston, Mass, Capt. Robert
Gray. arrived on the west coast at place
called Clyoquot.near the entrance to the straits
OF Fuca. and traded up and down the coast
during the following spring and summer. 1t
was while on one of these trading excursions
to buy iurs from the Indians that Capt GRAY
on the 18th of March. 1872. discovered the
Columbia river. which he named after his
ship the first that ever sailed up its stream
The report of this discovery and the valuable
collection OF furS Capt. Gray carried to Boston
created considerable excitement and number
of expeditions were planned for making a set
Element OH the western coast 1t would occupy
too much time and space to recIte in detail the
various ventures. expeditions and vessels
which followed the lead of the Columbia in the
fur, hide and taliow trade from 1871 TO 1910. or
to specify the various points touched at by the
numerous vessels from Boston and vicinity
during what may be called the first period or
era of west coast trade. In Danas Two Years
Before the Mast" we have an entertaining
description of some of its characteristics. In
cidental to this early intercourse and traffic
with the Indians the pursuit of fur-bearing
animals and the purchase of peltries led trap
pers and traders into the interior of California
and the valleys of the Tulare. San Joaquin
and Sacramento. which in those DAYS as we
are told, abounded with beaver, otter and other
animals.