Indian Games | Page 9

village, I perceived a number of these Indians, who seemed much
heated at play. I approached them and found that the game they were
playing at was what they called the game of platter. This is the game to
which the Indians are addicted above all others. They sometimes lose
their rest and in some degree their very senses at it. They stake all they
are worth, and several of them have been known to continue at it till
they have stript themselves stark naked and lost all their movables in
their cabin. Some have been known to stake their liberty for a certain
time. This circumstance proves beyond all doubt how passionately fond
they are of it, there being no people in the world more jealous of their
liberty than our Indians."
In the description which Charlevoix then gives, he is relied partly upon
personal observations and also to some extent, upon accounts which
were at that time in manuscript in Quebec mid which were easily
accessible to him. He was himself an intelligent observer and a

cultivated man. His history and his letters, although not free from the
looseness of expression which pervades contemporaneous accounts
show on the whole the discipline of an educated mind. We learn from
him and from the authorities heretofore enumerated that two players
only from each side could participate in this game at any given time
during its progress. The necessary implements were a bowl and a
number of dice fashioned somewhat like apricot seeds, and colored
differently upon the upper and lower sides. Generally, one side was
white and the other black. The number of these dice was generally six.
There was no fixed rule as to the materials of which they were made;
sometimes they were of bone; sometimes the stones of fruits were used.
The important point was that the centre of gravity of each die should be
so placed, that when it was thrown into the air, or when the bowl in
which it was placed, was violently twirled, there would be an even
chance as to which of its two sides the die would settle upon when it
lodged; and in the game as it was played in early times that the whole
number of dice used should be uniform in the coloring of the sides,
each die having the different sides of different colors. The dice were
placed in the bowl which was generally of wood, between the two
players who were to cast them in behalf of their respective sides. These
casters or throwers were selected by each side and the prevailing
motives in their choice were generally based upon some superstitious
belief in their luck. Perhaps this one had dreamed that he would win.
Perhaps that one was believed to possess some magic power, or some
secret ointment which when applied to the dice would cause them to
turn up favorably for his side. [Footnote: Relations des Jesuites,
Relation en l'Annue, 1636, p. 113.] The spectators were generally
arranged in seats along the sides of the cabin [Footnote: Ibid, Relation
en l'Annue, 1639, p. 95.], placed in tiers so that each person could have
a view of the players. They were in more senses than one deeply
interested in the game. When the cast was to be made the player would
strike the bowl upon the ground so as to make the dice jump into the air
[Footnote: Sigud Theodat Vol. 1, p. 213.] and would then twirl the
bowl rapidly around. During this process and until it stopped its
revolutions and the dice finally settled, the players addressed the dice
and beat themselves on their breasts. [Footnote: Shea's Hennepin, p.
300.] The spectators during the same period filled the air with shouts

and invoked aid from their own protecting powers, while in the same
breath they poured forth imprecations on those of their adversaries. The
number of points affected the length of the game and as entirely
optional. If six dice were used and all came up of the same color, the
throw counted five. [Footnote: Among the Delawares it required eight
counts of five to win. History of the Mission of the United Brethren
among the Indians etc. G H Loskiel. Translated by I Latrobe,
Part I, Ch. VIII, p. 106.] If five
of them were of the same color it counted one. Any lower number
failed to count. If the caster was unsuccessful he gave place to another,
but so long as he continued to win his side would retain him in that
position. [Footnote: Charlevoix Vol. III, p. 264.] The game was often
ushered in with singing. Like lacrosse it was prescribed as a remedy for
sickness or in consequence of dreams, and the sufferer in whose behalf
the game was played was