A favorite pastime in the day was gambling with a small wheel called it-se’-wah. This wheel was about four inches in diameter, and had five spokes, on which were strung different-colored beads, made of bone or horn.  A level, smooth piece of ground was selected, at each end of which was placed a log.  At each end of the course were two men, who gambled against each other.  A crowd always surrounded them, betting on the sides.  The wheel was rolled along the course, and each man at the end whence it started, darted an arrow at it.  The cast was made just before the wheel reached the log at the opposite end of the track, and points were counted according as the arrow passed between the spokes, or when the wheel, stopped by the log, was in contact with the arrow, the position and nearness of the different beads to the arrow representing a certain number of points.  The player who first scored ten points won.  It was a very difficult game, and one had to be very skilful to win.

Another popular game was what with more southern tribes is called “hands”; it is like “Button, button, who’s got the button?” Two small, oblong bones were used, one of which had a black ring around it.  Those who participated in this game, numbering from two to a dozen, were divided into two equal parties, ranged on either side of the lodge.  Wagers were made, each person betting with the one directly opposite him.  Then a man took the bones, and, by skilfully moving his hands and changing the objects from one to the other, sought to make it impossible for the person opposite him to decide which hand held the marked one.  Ten points were the game, counted by sticks, and the side which first got the number took the stakes.  A song always accompanied this game, a weird, unearthly air,—­if it can be so called,—­but when heard at a little distance, very pleasant and soothing.  At first a scarcely audible murmur, like the gentle soughing of an evening breeze, it gradually increased in volume and reached a very high pitch, sank quickly to a low bass sound, rose and fell, and gradually died away, to be again repeated.  The person concealing the bones swayed his body, arms, and hands in time to the air, and went through all manner of graceful and intricate movements for the purpose of confusing the guesser.  The stakes were sometimes very high, two or three horses or more, and men have been known to lose everything they possessed, even to their clothing.

The children, at least the boys, played about and did as they pleased.  Not so with the girls.  Their duties began at a very early age.  They carried wood and water for their mothers, sewed moccasins, and as soon as they were strong enough, were taught to tan robes and furs, make lodges, travois, and do all other woman’s—­and so menial—­work.  The boys played at mimic warfare, hunted around in the brush with their bows and arrows, made mud images of animals, and in summer spent about half their time in the water.  In winter, they spun tops on the ice, slid down hill on a contrivance made of buffalo ribs, and hunted rabbits.