Notes

FROM CARD: "27 CARVED STICKS, 1 LEATHER POUCH ILLUS. IN USNM AR, 1888; PL. 63, FIG. 335, P. 344. FOR STUDY AND RETURN: MR. STEWART CULIN UNIVERSITY OF PENN. PHILA. PA. MARCH 24, 1897." FROM 19TH OR EARLY 20TH CENTURY EXHIBIT LABEL WITH CARD: "GAMBLING STICKS. MADE OF WOOD; TWENTY-SEVEN IN NUMBER, WITH DEERSKIN CASE. EACH STICK IS CARVED WITH A TOTEMIC DESIGN. LENGTH, 5 INCHES; DIAMETER, 1/2 INCH. TLINGIT INDIANS (KOLUSCHAN STOCK), SITKA, ALASKA, 6,556. COLLECTED BY DR. T. T. MINOR, U. S. A. EXPLANATION OF GAME.-EACH OF THE PLAYERS, IN TURN, SELECTS A NUMBER OF THESE STICKS FROM HIS BAG AND COVERS THEM IN A HEAP OF FINELY CUT BARK TOW. HIS OPPONENT THEN GUESSES WHETHER THIS NUMBER IS ODD OR EVEN, OR IN WHICH OF TWO PILES A CERTAIN STICK IS HIDDEN. ACCORDING AS HIS GUESS IS A SUCCESS OR A FAILURE, HE GAINS OR LOSES ONE OR MORE STICKS. THIS IS KEPT UP UNTIL ONE OF THE PLAYERS LOSES HIS ENTIRE SET AND THUS FORFEITS THE ARTICLE BET UPON THE GAME. THE TLINGITS ARE INVETERATE GAMBLERS."