The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19

Acit ONefy III any Otner case ne roses. IN
the first room of the ''tankoon" the stakes
are small copper coins.
The second room is for more aristocratic
and wealthy players. The stakes are sill
yer coins. The games are similar to those
in the first room. The stakes are not
placed on the table, for fear that some of
the rabble from the other saloon, driven
to desperation by losses, might be tempted
to take the place by storm and make off
with the money on the board. Playing
cards are used to distinguish the players
and the amounts OF the stakes. Although
for further precaution the proprietor en-
tiers in book the bets, there are frequent
disputes. A friend tells me that the only
prizehght he has seen in China was be-
tween the proprietor of ore of these places
and a dissatisfied player, who thought
that he had been cheated.
In all the games the bank has no advan-
tage over the players. If the stakes are
evenly distributed the house wins moth
ing. The profits come from a commission
deducted from the winnings This is
usually per cent. AS the gambling
houses are crowded daily the earnings are
therefore considerable. but the greedy of
ficials, who countenance such infractions
of the law, are Unsuitable, and came in for
large share. So far as the players are
concerned, they are often ruined. Many a
one not only loses his money but his
clothes. Sometimes a man is turned out
of gambling-house naked, or merely
wrapped in an old piece of jute.
Another class of gambling places is de-
voted to game of riddles. The game Is
curious and, so far as know, this form of
gambling is peculiar to the Chinese. 1t is
called ''old people," By this term is sig
nitied a series of names, under which
thirty-six persons were formerly known.
The names are divided into nine groups.
l.. The names of four men who achieved the
highest literary distinction, and who in for
mer stages of existence were, respectively,
fish, white goose, a white snail and pea
cock.
2. The names of five military worthless, who
were once worm, rabbit, pig, tiger and
cow.
9. The names of seven successful merchants,
who were formerly dragon, fiy, a white dog,
white horse, an elephant, a wildcat and
wasp.
4. Four persons, who enjoyed on earth upin-
terrupted happiness, formerly q frog, an eagle,
monkey and dragon.
). Four women; formerly a sparrow n Jewel.
white swallow and dove.
6. Five beggars; formerly a sea gull, a snake,
fish, deer and sheep.
d. n a
hen, al elk and calf
8. Two Tanist priests: formerly white hem
and cat with yellow stripes.
y buddhist nun, who was once a fox
The game is played as follows: The
owner of the gambling house engages the
services of man who is very clever and
ingenious in constructing riddles, ana he
has to pay him a good stiff salary. for
such talents are in great demand. The
4nll hnEs 20 4Axs i
for the place is open twice each day. Each
riddle must relate 10 one or another of
the persons who are referred TO in the
above list, In one or the other of their
steps of existence. AS soon as a riddle is
written 1t is printed in thousands of copies
oftentimes. The copies are sold. Not only
does the proprietor receive a considerable
income from the sale of the riddles, but
the solution of the puzzle brings him still
more. A purchaser, who thinks he has
guessed the riddle, writes down his answer
and the amount he is willing to back
1t with as bet, and hands i'm
the paper and stake to the mas
ter OF ceremonies at the time
appointed for the drawing, as one might
call it. After all the answers are received
and bets made, the managers withdraw to
count the money and look over the
answers. The riddle-makers selects the
correct solutions. The prize, which ia n
considerable amount, usually is divided
among those who have hit upon the right
Interpretation. This species of gambling
gives rise to many disputes and much dis
satisfaction, but that is unavoidable. The
amount OF the bet is limited, and vet MANY
persons, especially women, lose a great
deal at this game. Ladies of social stand
ing do not appear at these gambling
houses, but they are represented by their
servants and slaves.
Another curious gambling device il
called 'tapakoopoo." 1t shows what a
strong and simple faith the people have
in mans honesty. Indeed most of the
gambling games of the Chinese furnish
ample means for cheating, but there is in
reality very little complaint on this score.
considering the number of gambling dens'
In "ta-pa-koo-poo" one of the managers
takes strip OF paper on which are writ
ten eighty characters, signifying, for ex-
ample, the sun, moon, earth, stars, etc.
He is carefully shut up for several hours
In room 10 which no one is allowed
access. during this confinement he
marks with red ink twenty of the charac-
tiers on the strip. As soon as the door is
opened the paper Is put Immediately into
a box, which Is locked. In the meantime
similar list OF characters has been struck
oil on press and copies are sold The
buyer marks ten characters and hands in
his copy at an appointed time, when all
copies OF competitors are compared
In public with the original marked
copy. You must guess more than four
characters right To win: if you get five,
You receive seven cash" if eight, 81:
iften, $l5 One person is permitted to buy
as many as 300 copies of the characters,
but he must mark the same ten letters in