FAN TAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2797, 11 March 1882, Page 3

FAN TAN.

‘ At the Christchurch]Resident) Magis- ; ,i trkte’s Court recently, Detective Noil/ in the covyse of the trial of a number ; iOf Chinese for playing fan tan, gave a ■; 'practical exposition of the game. There is a banker who stands at the end ora table. Before him is spread a cloth, on, ■which is a square board divided by, a - cross. The corners are numbered, 1,2, 3, and 4. The other materials are a quantity of “cash,” which is a brass coin of small value current in China. Each coin has a square hole in the centre V and when used for money they pass from hand to hand, tied in bunches of recognised value. In the game, they are loose. There are besides buttons of different colors, each representing sums of from 5s up to £5 or more. These are bought by the players and ■ used for stakes. All being ready the. players place their stakes on the board /according to their fancy, the, number representing even money or odds staked by the bank. The banker then takes from the heap a : handful .of loose Cash, andlbegins to withdraw them as spread . but by four pieces at a draw. This is ' hot done by the fingers; John Chinaman has long finger nails and long sleeves, to which latter he can convey bowers and other things with, surprising dexterity.,; He is, therefore, put beyond suspicion, though it is probable- that ■'•practised, bankers do now and then deal ' hot , altogether, honestly . with the pieces.; The banker .withdraws the; •pieces by' l a pointed stick, fesem-, wing. a. long • blncklead r pencil, which he inserts in the holes of the caslv ■it’, is''evident that, at the last, there; must be left on the table, four, or some; less number of pieces. If there are fotir left, the backer or backers, of No. 4 ibn the board take the money deposited< 'on'that number, and whatever addition fcofif the, bank that is prescribed by the iples 1 of the game, less.s per cent deducted from all winnings for the benefit of Ihe house ; and so with other nmnbers should they ibe the same as the remainder. The game, if conducted honestly, seems to be fair enough. The Chinese are intensely fond of it, and while playing create a tremendous noise the nproar of which must he heard to he properly appreciated.