The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-12
CHINESE GAMBLERS.
The Waiscng Lottery Is the Most Ex-
tensive and Elaborate Game OF

tensive and Elaborate Game OF
Chance.
From Pearson's Weekly.
Every one knows that the Chinese are
inveterate gamblers, but few Cauca-
slams have any definite ideas as to the
number and modes of playing, except,
perhaps. with regard to fan tan and pot.
The most extensive and elaborate form of
Chinese gambling is the waiseng lottery.
Il is indigenous to Canton, and vast sums
are paid to the officials for the privilege
of farming this lottery.
In each waiseng lottery there are 1000
tickets, and for the purpose of numbering
them the charac in the small didaotic
booklet called THE Thousand Character
Classic" are invariably used.
The cost OF tickets and the number and
value of the prizes vary considerably, but
are. OF course fixed before any particular
lottery is Opened"
The results of waiseng lotteries depend
on the surnames of the successful COM
petltors in one or other Of the examina-
lions for official appointments which are
periodically held In the district province
or metropolis.
which examinations ere held, and this
fact. together with the use of THE Thou
sand Character Classic" imparts a kind
Of pseudo-llterary tone to waisengs and
thus renders them highly respectable and
popular
The following Is an outline Of the way
IN which the waiseng Is carried on. The
farmer, or his agent announces by hand
bin or poster, that a lottery will be OPEN
"a dta nj n
adding full particulars as to date price
of tickets and other conditions The
would-be stalker goes to the shop indicst
ed and hands a slip of paper, In which
he has written the twenty surnames he
wishes 10 back" pays for his ticket and
gets in return a preliminary receipt
When 1000 tickets have been subscribed
for the tickets and the book of the lot
terry are printed. and each stalker gets on
application book and abe ticket or tick
cts he has paid for.
The book" contains 1000 columns. At
the top OF each column is printed one OF
the 900 characters following each other
in the order of the CLASSIFY, and under
each character is the list of twenty sur
names backed by the person whose ticket
bears that distinguishing character. Each
ticket has also printed on II its price, the
examination in question and the name of
the issuing agent or firm, but IS does not
contain the twenty selected surnames.
BY reference TO the book the stalker can
see his own selected list under the dis
tinguishing character Of his ticket, as well
as the lists of surnames selected by the
other 500 stakers.
The first prize goes 90 The person whose
list OF surnames includes the largest num-
Der of the surnames OF the successful
competitors and so on as to the other
prizes IL, for example, each Of the TWEEN
ty surnames selected by a particular
stalker Is that OF successful candidate.
then the stalker has scored highest
possible" and, subject 90 the conditions
as to the amounts and distribution of
prizes, takes the first prize, or share OF
IL, or fxed sum.
The total amount OF The prizes Is usual
ly not more than 60 or 70 per cent. OF the
amounts staked, the remaining 30 or 40
per cent, after deducting expenses, being
the farmers profit. II is also usual for
the farmer 10 reserve a considerable num-
Der of tickets and TO stake for himself.
When the result of the examination has
been officially declared leaflets giving the
names OF she successful candidates are
published by the farmer. and payments
paid 10 winners on application according
10 the conditions Sometimes payment is
not made by s,skers until the printed
books and tickets are ready for delivery.
Before handing in his list Of surnames
the careful stalker consults the lists OF
successful candidates al previous exani-
nations and so far as possible ascertains
the names Of candidates who are favor
ties for place on the forthcoming list.
The latter information can be had from
"tipsters" for a consideration.
A stalker, for instance, may learn that
a candidate bearing an uncommon sur
name and being comparatively unknown
Is likely TO DO well-turn out dark
horse" IN racing parlance. A up OF
this kind IL worth paying for
II Is usual to bar" some OF the COM
rnonest surnames dixie our Smiths. Jones.
etco. that liz TO say, stakers are not al
lowed 10 include barred names In their
I,st for the reason that such names are
certain TO appear IN the list OF successful
conpetttors. and II not barred" would
ne Inserted In every staker's list.
In the Straits Settlements. where these
lotteries are illegal, various devices are
resorted TO In order 10 avoid the heavy
nenalties attached to fhe management of
lotteries For instance. the tickets often
purport to give admission TO a theatrical
performance, a two-dolar tickes being for
admission to front seat. dollar one to
a second, and 50-cent one admitting
child half price"
such transparent devices, however de-
ceive no one acquainted with the lottery.
In recent years a large number Of pro-
moters OF waisenEs have been deported
10 China as being In law "habhual gam
blers."