The times., 1899-04-16

an indefinite stay. as it is one of the rules
of the game that winner can never quit;
neither can a loser until he has staked and
lost his last possession OF value to any
other player.
Sing-gamble has been played among the
Indians for hundreds of years and is unique
as well as ingenious. For several weeks
previous to game the squaws go about
the country stripping the dead and fallen
cedar trees of their bark and the old men
hunt for cedar saplings with many knots.
The bark and knots are taken into camp
an dthe former is stripped by the papooses
of the brown. stringy substance covering
the inside. When great piles have been
secured it is then pulled and rubbed be-
tween the hands until finer and much softer
than excelsior. The knots are cut into
bits about as thick as a poker chip and
the size OF silver dollar. These are
highly polished by rubbing on untanned
| skins. When LOCO or 1,500 of these disks
or chips are finished the counters. or sticks
| for keeping the score are made. They
are also of cedar about six inches long.
| three quarters of an inch wide, and scraped
| until half rounded. so that, placed in
row, they look like a bit of corrugated
wood. There are sixty-six OF these coun-
| tiers, that being the number OF points nee
essary TO win.
The grass mat has long been made and
put away TO await the coming of the great
day when sing gamble shall begin. The
/ bank has also been receiving donations all
the winter and is now filled to overflow
ing, having on deposit horses, rifles,
| skins. blankets. and every imaginable
! thing, all subject to the direction of the
| chief or some chosen member of the tribe.
Several days previous 10 the day set for
sing gamble the rival tribes leave for the
| scene of the game and establish villages
| cn either side OF big tepee made to ac-
commodate the players and spectators.
This house of skin is prepared for the
players. In the centre is a bright fire of
pitch knots and on either side of the en-
trance are ether fires. all kept going by
two young bucks. one from each tribe
who feel that they have been specially
honored. The playing tepee is all ready
the big grass mats are on the ground, and
round the edges are piles of skins and
blankets
Sing gamble begins only as the sun is
setting. and must be played only during
the new moon. The hour is near; the play
ers take their positions in the centre Of
! their respective villages. and followed by
the members of their tribes they march
toward the big tepee. each procession being
headed by the tomtom players. and, of
course. the persistent barking and yelp-
ing dog. Arriving at the entrance the play
| CTs from eacn side enter alternately, ami
take their positions around the mats while
the spectators come in later. and squat on
the skins back of and near their players.
the tomtoms being in the front row and
ready for use at any instant Scorers are
chosen. one from each side, usually ths
Oldest >bucks OF each tribe, who look like
Egyptian mummies.
AT a given signal the first player makes
a motion with his hand and then the toni
toms are beaten and the squaws and bucks
of his tribe chant while all eyes are CEN
tired on the dealer, who makes weird move
: ments and chants. altogether obllyious of
the noise going on about him. Finally,
the tribe tones down until there is but a
buzzlng sound and the player can be heard
repeating in monotone
wha-o-o. Ia-heho.
Ah. ah-o. Ah-o-o.
n Be. Behi Cei,-ceh.
| 81 oct. So octi So octl
Mha-o-o. Wla-o-o.t,
This is next taken up by the whole
tribe and chantei over and over, the tom
toms being constantly beaten, while the
squaws and bucks sway their bodies back
and forth and move their hands up and
down AS the song. II such IL may be call
! ed. ends the player stoops over and picks
out from the huge pile of chips eight shiny
red ones and one stained black, nine in ALL
These he clicks In his hands several times,
much as poker player toys with his ivor-
les. Then he divides them into parts. four
in one hand and five In the other Care
fully he rolls the chips in the bark pulp.
making two balls, which he shuffies on