Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-08-03
PLAY FOR BIG STAKES
GAMBLING AMONG THE INDIANS CAR
RED TO THE EXTREME.

by the Result eta single Gamc-iIow the
Bone Game Il Played INDIAN Has
Great Faith In Luck and Charms.
The Indian is an inycto1to gambler.
There is nothing in his possession that lac
will not wager on game of chance. This
characteristic arises from IA perfectly nat
ural cause. The Indian is n firm believer
in the supernatural, ana consequently has
great faith in luck, If it may be so termed.
Each Indian is the posscsSor Of an indl-
yidual charm, or fetch, that gives him
ability to do things that other Indians
cannot do. This fetch is something that
belongs especially to the individuals pos
sessing it, and according TO their belief
would DO of no use or advantage to any
other Indian.
No person besides the possessor knows
what this fetch is, and were it To become
known il would Immediately lose its pow
or for good. Having full faith in the abil
ity of his charm to bring luck to him, the
Indian never fails TO place all his posses
sions in the balance when there is n bet on,
If he loses, he takes it philosophically and
attributes his bad luck TO the greater pow
er of his adversary's charm. If he wins, he
has added faith in the power of his own
charm. have known an Indian TO wager
all Of his earthly possessions, even to his
squaw and children, on the fall of a stick
in one of their games.
have known one village TO become alb
solute paupers and be dependent upon
charity for months because the members
bet everything they had on the result of a
game participated in by two villages.
Such occurrences were common several
years ago, and were it not for the restric-
tions of governmental regulations would
be still.
One popularity of Indian gambling
games is their intricacy. In several tribes
have seen Indians playing n game with
sticks and stones for hours at a time. Not
withstanding the closest attention / have
been unable TO discover the system used,
nor have / ever met white man who
could explain the game to me. The In
dams would sit for many hours throwing
the stones and sticks and losing or win
ming large amounts, but the whole game
was mystery that seemed impossible of
solution TO white men.
There are several games OF this charac-
ter, and among the Pacific coast tribes they
are common. In addition TO his faith in
his charm the average Indian places great
dependence upon his ability TO cheat. The
best cheat is accorded the highest honors
when gambling is INDUCED in. There is
never thought of getting angry over deft
tricks or unfair methods SO long as the per-
petrator is not caught in the act. If he is
caught, he simply refunds his gains and is
laughed at for his Clumsincss. 1t Is proba-
BILE that no gambling game among Indians
ever goes to an ending without what
white man would call outrageous cheat
ing. From simple games with sticks to
horse racing, the acme of Indian gambling,
the man who can do the most dishonest
things with the least danger of exposure is
the man who obtains the most money and
the highest praises.
The players never get angry, and there
is never any quarreling over the games.
Indians lose and win with a stoicism that
is the emulation of gentlemen gamblers
among the whites. j knew of an Indian
who lost all his belongings, even his wife
and children, and yet he got up with
smile on his face and started out TO steal
enough from some unfortunate white man
or other tribe of Indians TO make up for
his lost fortune. Indians will sit all night
over game, and sometimes three or four
games are going at the same time, the eX-
cited onlookers passing from one to the
other and betting on two or three games
at once.
Two principals choose sides, or two vii
lagos are arrayod against each other, and
then the fun begins. The opposing sides
sit opposite each other in a long double
row. Between the rows are spread blan-
kets, upon which the stakes are placed.
The prcliminarics Of the game consist of
the decision of stakes, values and amounts.
As in the game mentioned above, the OBJ
jcct Of every Indian is to get something
the best Of his opponent in the matter of
value of the article bet, and in the settle
mcnt Of this there is much dispute and
wranglng. / must say, however, that the
wrangling never results in anger or fight
ing. 1t frequently takes an hour to settle
all the points of stakes and then the game
proper begins.
\ toss is made to see which side shall hold
the bone, which being settled all is attcn-
ton. The center player takes small bone
In his hands and begins "A series of frantic
jugglinQs 90 deceive his opponents, and
then rapidly passes his hands ID the person
on linht and then TO his left as if placing
the bone in their hands. Immediately the
two 90 through similar motions and APP
parcntly pass the bone on 10 their next
ncghbGr. This is continued until the
whole limo, sometimes composed Of 100 In
dans, is ma2o Of waving hands and
arms, each Indian trying to make the 9TH
or side believe that lee holds the bone.
Should one Of the watchers have reason TO
believe that he can locate the bone he
points, and Immediately the hand Is held
out. Ii he wins, the bone Is passed across
the line, and point is scored for the side
holding the bone, and the whole thing be.
gins over again.
Should the bono bcaccidcntally dropped
it counts point for the opposite side, where
the bone also goes. The game consists Of
. points ana sometimes lasts whole day
before il is decided ! know Of one game
that continued for two days and one night
without COS alton. In game between u
band of Uto5 and a band Of Navaiocs near
the southccu Ute agency in 1879 the Nav
uious lest their entire possessions, consist
ing ~ horses, arms, robes, tents, clothing
and large sum OF money. They left with
Out a murmur, but an Apache raid on Il
Now Mexican town was reported soon aft
NJ, and that same band Of Nayajocs showed
up at Los Pinos agency within a month
with good outlit.-Pittsburg Dispatch.
The Most Common Name In Ireland.
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