The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-22
OF INDIA
GAMBLE ON RAIN
How the Bets Are Made and
Decided
WAGERS ON BIRD FIGHTS
System of Gambling Is Called Sutta,
and Weather Prophets Bet Accord
Ing to Their Own Opinion.
Quail Flights.


Quail Flights.
From London Tit Bits.
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
speculation which is about the simplest
specimen of gambling to be found any
where and has the advantage or distinc-
ton of allowing no opportunity to sharp
ers and birds of kindred feathers to exer-
else their skill 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 it rests with the elemeres
only to decide who is the winner Inc
betting may take place anywhere, so long
as there is a roof and spout, or ram
gauge. recognized by both parties In the
betting transaction
If the gambling takes place in room
there will probably be long, counterlike
table extending from one end to the
other: at one side of this table are book
makers sitting on cushions, and by their
side a gorgeous brass bound box and
native inkstand, and old-fashioned sand
box, and these men book the time at
which a gambler prognosticates the rain
Tff,a of
question whether 1t does rain or not are
of simple description.
Two Glasses of Gauges.
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 small hole to which q
spout is fixed, and through this narrow
aperture the water trickles when the
rain only falls in the form of slight
drizzle, but when it rains in earnest the
rush of water is not able to escape
through the small spout, so fills up the
gutter and pours over the end, and 1t is
on this desired event happening that
most of the bets are usually booked, The
other method is a rough kind OF rain
gauge supported on posts some seven rect
high and standing in the middle OF
trough.
When heavy clouds gather overhead and
appear to be merely in doubt as to wheth-
er 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 gam
blers rush In to book their bets-that is,
If the police don't interfere. Many are
the anxious faces which gaze up into
the sky. for, like a Derby day in Eng
land. some have staked their all, and
comparative fortune or total loss and
despair depends on the clouds above.
Rich buniahs or merchants, soldiers and
clerks. all classes risk their money in
the hope of increasing it, with the con-
sequence 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 intensity of their
keenness. to indulge their propensity with
money that is not their own, and many
are sent to prison for losing other peo-
pies money to the sutta bookmakers
Another somewhat uncommon form of
gambling takes more after the nature of
cock fighting insomuch as it Is betting
on the fighting powers of certain birds.
Theparticular kind of bird varies in some
measure according to the part of India.
Chikor. which are larger than part
ridge are found on the lower slopes of
the mountains and are game to the ex
tent of keen fightings and the cock birds
are frequently pitted against each other.
IsPartridges are more general than chikor,
many being so cleverly trained that they
are expert fighters, and group of ma
| tives may be seen squatting in a. ring
and betting to the amount of their money
on the bird they respectively favor.
ouals Extensively Used.
Quails. however, are probably more ex-
tensively used for these bird fights. part
| ly because at certain seasons they are
found all over India, and more especial
| ~ because there is no bird of their Size
more game for a fight When properly
| trained for the ring or pit they give
what the experienced sporting gamblers
affirm to. be a most scientific display of
| bird fighting and staying power which
is frequently game enough unto death
| in battle. Quais are so pugnacious that
those which have been netted In the
corn fields and are to be reserved for
use at table have to be kept in special
| ~ prepared quail pits until needed. the
chief essential being that the birds must
| not have sufficient light to see each other,
or they would fight 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 a few words,
each other and their hands smultan-
eously grope about In the folds of their
pugarees. whence they will each produce
| a quail. which will be placed on the
ground and the birds will promptly be-
gin to fight, while their owners will bet
on the result. If other natives should
| happen to come along they will squat to
| watch and also bet if they have any
money. Then when the fight and excite
ment are over they will settle their ac-
counts and quietly go their respective
ways.
Question Of Pride.