The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-04

usually a much larger number watch the
progress of the game and perhaps pace
a bet occa sionally tul
Picture a rude shelter of green boughs,
| roughly circular in form, placed in some
thtcket or under the overhanglng branches
of a large tree. In the center a blanket
Is spread upon the ground, surrounded by
fifteen or twenty Indians, squatting about
it, or leaning over, ntently watching the
play. Over all the fitful glow and play
| of light from a huge fire on one side. The
effect is heightened by a weird song, which
is constant accompaniment of the game
and which rises and falls as the excite
ment grows and wanes, reaching. some
! times, such freuzied accents that the cas-
ual passer-by might easily mistake it for
a war song.
The players take their places at the four
corners of the blanket, and are paired off
by couples. Each player contributes one
of his mOccasins, and the winner of the
toss lays them on a blanket upside down,
and about six inches apart, with the toes
pointing forward. Then, with his left
hand he lifts each moccasln in turn and
makes pretense of putting the knife I'M
der it, making many passes and using
every precaution to deceive his opponents
and the spectators. During all the time
the musician keeps up a continuous hum
ming, which he accompanies with a
| song. In the song the others all join,
but the opponents of the players eager
| ly watch for some slip which will give
| them clue as to which moccasin the
knife or little locker is concealed under
| When the knife is hidden to the salts
faction of the player he suddenly calls
out "Ho!' in loud voice, and the sing
ing drops TO a low murmur. One o. his
opponents is provided with a short stick
and he raises it threateningly over the
| moccasins first over one then over anoth
/ a1A AssNR1
eye is fixed contently upon him. The in
, terest becomes more and more intense as
this by-play proceeds until finally tie
man with the stick places one end of it
under the moccasin he selects and turns
it over Should the knife be found under
it, he wins, and the former player relin-
! quishes 10 him the mecca sins and knife,
together with the stakes 1t is thereupon
his privilege to hide the knife. while h 8
opponent must guess at its location. This
reversal in position gives the native player
a much better chance to come out even
on the play than the average fa6ir who
works the game at country fairs is dispos-
! ed to allow his victim.
The peculiar traits of the Indian char
acter, especially his pronounced improv-
idence is much in evidence in his gamb-
ling, and it is not unusual for man to
ride up with an elaborate outfit, horse .
| saddle and silver bride, a silver belt
and coral necklaces, silver buttons on his
moccasins and leggings, etc, the whcie
rig worth perhaps $500 and to leave few
hours later. barefooted and carrying his
saddle on his back, bereft of buttons,
bracelets and everything except his cloth
ing.
The introduction of American and Span
ish or monte cards has given greater OBJ
portunities for play, and has done much
to develop it. The most persistent ef-
forts by many different agents to hre ak
up the practice have been entirely without
effect, and the average Indian agent now
simply ignores what he cannot control 1t
is not unusual to see small gambling par
ties in sheltered hooks and corners of the
agency buildings, playing for the good :
and rations which have just been issued
The idea of obtaining someth ng for no h.
ing is quite as fascinating 10 the Indian
as it is to some white men, but among the
| former no odum attaches to the gamb-
Ter. for all are gamblers. 1t is only on
the hypothesis that play fills cine pro-
/ nounced want, some great mental need
that its universal distributor among the
Indians can be explained.