GAMBLING IN CHINA

The " Thirty-six Beasts " and "Ba coun" are the two gambling games in Indo-Chha and almost throughout the whole extreme East, where thev are assuming proportions of so demoralising a character that the French Government has found it necessary to control and limit their action in countries under its protectorate by cancelling the concession granted to certain speculator?. The " Thirty-six Beasts" is the favourite game, and is played as follows : —On the ground-floor of a building of a rec tangular form there is a spacious hall containing a specified number of baskets, and in the basement there are counter feit representations in cardboard of 36 animals of different species, and there it is that the croupier officiates. He is either an intelligent Chinese, or Siamese, or Japanese, or Annamite, or Cambod ian, according to the country when the game is played, for it should be known that it is popular, not only throughout Asia, including Persia and Afghanistan, but even in certain parts of British India. This croupier is in communication only with the person who " farms " the game, and is employed exclusively by him Early in the morning, affixed to frames placed at different spots in the town, are portions of artificial animals, such as pieces of horn, of hide, of sinew, of plumage, and fish-bone, <fec, each de noting the nature of the animal fixed upon as the winning one for the day. It is a conundrum which the players have to solve. People crowd in front of these frames, each one forming his own opinion, which he is prepared to back, in regard to the animal a fragment of which is submitted to his inspection. The Asiatic who believes he bas made a right guess enters the hall and stakes his money on the animal of his choice. In front of the house there is a mast which reaches down to the basement, and to which are affixed a cord and pulley, which the croupier manipulates. At five minutes to 12 a.m. 