Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
RAIN GAMBLING IN INDIA.
How Bets Are Made and Decided
Wagers on Bird Fights.

from LONDON Tlf-Bfts.
In India, and possibly more especially In
the large seaport towns. gambling is found
in almost every conceivable form. from the
sweepstake on the Calcutta cup to the
chuck farthing Of the bazaars.
The rainy season, however, brings into
temporary vogue a particular kind of spec
uiation which Is about the simplest speci-
men Of gambling to be found anywhere,
and has the advantage distinction of
allowing no opportunity to sharpers and
birds of kindred feather to exercise their
Skin In any manipulations which deceive
the eye OF the novice.
This system Of gambling is called sutta,
or rain speculation. The man who thinks
himself, weather wise bets according to his
opinion. and 1t rests with the elements only
to decide who Is the winner. The betting
may take place anywhere. SO long as there
Ii roof and spout, or rain gauge. rec
oRnized by both parties In the betting trans
action.
II the gambling takes place in a room
there will probably be a long, counterlike
table extending from one end to the other:
at one side of this table are the bookmak-
ers sitting on cushions, and by their side
gorgeous brass-bound box and native
tnkstand and old-fashioned sandbox, and
these men book the time at which a gam
bier prognosticates the rain will descend
The means Of settling the question whether
1t does rain or not are of simple descris-
ton.
There are two classes of rain gauges. One
IS long gutter running along the caves
OF the house or building-at one end there
is q small hole to which a spout Is fixed.
and through this narrow aperture the
water trfckles when the rain only falls in
the form Of a slight drizzle. but when 1t
rains In earnest the rush of water Is not
able to escape through the small spout, so
nils up the gutter and pours over the end,
and 1t Is on this desired event happening
Gnat most OF the bets are usually booked.
Fhe other method is rough kind Of rain
gauge supported on posts some seven feet
high and standing in the middle of a trough.
When heavy clouds gather overhead and
appear to be merely IN doubt as to whether
to break and pour down rain or to pass on
to some other district, then the scenes in the
gambling dens reach an intense stage of
excitement as the gamblers rush in to boo {
their bets-that Is. II the police don't inter-
fere. Many are the anxious faces which
gaze up into the sky, for, like derby day
in England, some have staked their ALL and
comparative fortune or total loss and de-
spair depends on the clouds above. Rich
buniahs merchants, soldiers and clerks,
all classes risk their money in the hope of
increasing 1t, with the consequence that
many are ruined AS in other countries,
with some the passion for gambling Is so
strong within them that 1t Is a species OF
madness. and they hesitate not in the In
tensity OF their keenness, to indulge their
propensity with money that 10 not their
rown, and many are sent to prison for losing
other peoples money to the sutta bookmak-
ers.
Another somewhat uncommon form of
gambling takes more after the nature OF
cock fighting, IN SO much that 1t Is betting
on the fighting powers of certain birds.
The particular kind Of bird varies in some
measure according to the part Of India.
Chikor, which are larger than partridge.
are found on the lower slopes of the noun
tains and are game to the extent OF keen
ffylO and fhn nClr t1rdo f1yv
pitted against each other. Partridges are
more general than chikor, many being so
cleverly trained that they are expert fight
ers. and group Of natives may be seen
squatting In q ring and betting to the
amount OF their money on the bird they re-
spectfvely favor.
Quails, however. are probably more ex-
tensively used for these bird fights, partly
ali over India and more especially because
there Is no bird OF their size more game for
G. fight. When properly trained for the ring
or pit they give what the experienced sport
ing gamblers affirm to be a most scientific
display OF bird fighting and staying power
which is frequently game enough unto death
in battle. Quails are SO pugnacious that
those which have been netted in the corn
table have to be kept in specially prepared
quail pits until needed, the chief essential
being that the birds must not have sufficient
light to see each other, or they would tight
until but one cock bird was left alive.
A couple of natives may accidentally meet
on the road possibly no one else is in sight
They exchange few words. then squat on
their launches opposite each other ana
their hands simultaneously grope about In
the folds of their pugarees, whence they
will produce quail. which will be placed
on the ground and the birds will promptly
begin to fight, while their owners will bet
on the result. If other natives should hap
pen to come along they will squat to watch,
and also bet If they have any money. Then,
when the fight and excitement are over,
they will settle their accounts and quietly
go their respective ways.