The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-04
RAIN GAMBLING IN INDIA.
How Bets Are Made and Decided.
Kagers ON Bird Fights.

RAIN GAMBLING IN INDIA.
How Bets Are Made and Decided.
Wagers on Bird Fights.
In India, and possibly more especial
ly in the large seaport towns, gamb-
ling is found in almost every conceiv-
able form, from the sweepstake on the
Calcutta cup to the chuck farthing of
the bazars.
The rainy season. however, says
London Tit-Bits, brings into temporary
vogue particular kind of speculation
which is about the simplest specimen
OF gambling to be found anywhere,
and has the advantage or distinction
of allowing no opportunity to sharpers
and birds of kindred feather 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 elements only to decide who
is the winner. The betting takes place
anywhere, SO long as there is roof
and spout, or ram gauge, recognized
by both parties in the betting tran
saction.
If the gambling takes place in a
room there will probably be long,
counterlike table extending from one
end to the other; at one side of this
table are the bookmakers sitting on
cushions, and by their side gorgeous
Drass-bOund box and native inkstand
and Old-fashiOned sand box, and these
men book the time at which gambler
prognosticates the rain will descend.
The means of settling the question
whether 1t does rain or not are of SIM
pie description.
There are two classes of rain
gauges. One is a long gutter running
along the caves of the house or build
ing-at one end there is small hole
to which spout is fixed, and through
this narrow aperture the water trick
les 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 it is on this desired
event happening that most of the bets
are usually booked. The other meth
cd is a rough kind of rain gauge sup
ported on posts some seven feet high
and standing in the middle of trough.
When heavy clouds gather overhead
and appear to be merely in doubt as
as to whether to break and pour down
rain or to pass on to some other dis
trict, then the scenes in the gambling
dens reach an intense stage of excite
ment as the gamblers rush in to book
their bets-that is, If the police don't
interior. Many are the anxious faces
which gaze up into the sky, for, like
derby day in England, some have
staked their all, and comparative for
tune 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 consequence
that many are ruined. AS in other
countries, with some the passion for
gambling is so strong within them that
1t is 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 9TH
er peoples money to the sutta book
makers.
Another somewhat uncommon form
of gambling takes more after the ma
ture of cock fighting, insomuch that
1T is betting on the fighting powers of
certain birds. The particular kind of
bird varies in some measure accord
ing to the part of India. Chikor, which
are larger than partridge, are found
on the lower slopes of the mountains
and are game to the extent of keen
fighting, and the cock birds are fire.
quently pitted against each other. Par
tridges are more general than Chikor,
many being so cleverly trained that
they are expert fighters, and group
of natives may be seen squatting in a
ring and betting to the amount of
their money on the bird they respec-
lively favor.
Quails, however, are probably more
extensively used for these bird fights.
partly because at certain seasons they
are found all over India, and more es-
pecially because there is no bird Of
their size more game for fight. When
properly trained for the ring or pit
they give what the experienced sport
ing gamblers affirm to be most
scientific display of bird fighting and
a staying power which is frequently
game enough unto death in battle.
Quails are so pugnacious that those
which have been netted in the corn
fields and are to be reserved for use
at the table have to be kept in spec
ialy 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 few
words, then squat on their launches
opposite each other and 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.
Ii 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 excitement are over,
they will settle their accounts and
quietly go their respective ways.
The Worm Turned.
A village doctor whose most trouble