Case No. 2:
Illustrated here are several types of gambling devices used by North
American Indians:
_Pomos_ of California, used a mat on which they threw their counters.
(See Plate 4b)
_Seneca-Cayuga_ of New York, used a wooden bowl and six flat, polished
peach seeds for their famous “Peach Seed Game.” This bowl was
brought to Oklahoma about 1840.
(See Plate 4c)
_Cheyennes_ of Oklahoma, used a basket bowl with wooden counters.
_Pawnees_ of Nebraska, used a basket tray. This is the only type of
basketry known to have been made by them. This basket was made
before they were removed to Oklahoma.
(See Plate 4d)
_Klamaths_ of Oregon, used a different gambling device in that it was
more of a guessing game. The mat covered the hands of the
operator. The two bones are held, one in each hand, and rotated.
The bet was made on the turn of the selected bone. These counters
were usually made from the foreleg of a deer or elk.
The Mongolian culture is well known to have a strong interest in
gambling games. Some anthropologists tell us that the North American
Indians came to this country many years ago across the Bering Sea from
Asia and that they are descendants of the Mongolians in that area.
MANIOC PRESS
_Carib_—Guatemala and Venezuela
Case No. 13:
Indians of Mexico, Central America, northern South America and the
Caribbean Islands used this press to remove poison (Hydrocyanic Acid)
from the Manioc root. This root is similar to the root used in the
preparation of tapioca. The Indians process the root to make a flour
which is used in a native bread. This type of press was in use by these
people as early as 892 A.D. and in some areas is still being used today.
To remove the poison from Manioc the root is pounded, then stuffed into
the basket, causing it to expand in girth and to shorten in length. (The
particular type of diagonal twill weave used in this basket press
permits a girth expansion to twice its former size and a reduction in
length of about one-half its original size.) The press is then submerged
in water and soaked until thoroughly saturated. When it is removed from
the water the press is hung by the loop end, usually on a branch. The
foot or a weight is put on the closed end of the press and this creates
a squeezing action which removes the poison from the root inside. At
this point the press changes shape and becomes long and narrow again.
This process is repeated several times to assure the removal of the
poison.
(See Plate 11a)