GAMBLING ON THE WEATHER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13640, 9 July 1906, Page 6

GAMBLING ON THE WEATHER

A KAIXY DAY .SI'Ef.'ULATrtXY. Perhaps in no country is gambling In every form and for slakes of every size so prevalent, as in India. But n particular kind which is peculiar to ihe land is the fashion during the rainy season. This is called sulta, or rain speculation, and has the advantage over most forms of gambling of allowing no opportunity to sharpers to "fix the returns."

Those who think themselves weatherwise, and there arc many all over the world, bc-{- according to their opinion, and it rests with the elements to decide who wins. The belting may take place anywhere, so long as there is a roof and «. spout or a rain gauge, which is recognised by both parties in the transaction. Should Ihe gambling take place in a room, there will probably he a. long counterliko table extending from one end to the other. Al cue side sit the bookmakers, and by their sides a gorgeous brass-bound box, native inkstand and sand box. Those, men honk lln* time at. which Ihe gambler thinks the rain will descend. The means for seiilitig the question are very simple and are of two kinds. One. is a long gutlcr running along the eaves of i'ni' house or building, at tho end of which there is a small hole, to which 11 spout is fixed. 'Through ibis narrow aperture ihe water 'trickles when tho rain falls in ihe form of a flight drizzle. But when it rains in earnest the rush of water is not. able io oscapc through I lie small water spnnt, so Jills up ihe gutter ami pours over ihe end. If is on this deserted end that :no.-:t of the )>c;b are booked.

The other method of telling the amount of rain which falls is a rough kind of rain gauge supported on posts some 7ft high and standing in a trough.

The scenes of excitement reach their height in the gambling dens on a cloudy day, when the chanojs between n heavy dovj;pc.ur and the passing of the rain cloud? to another district are about even. Then the gamblers rush in anxious to book (heir bets. The rich merchants ami traders, poor soldiers and clerks, all classes, in fact, look anxiously at the f-ky and risk all the money they have within rend'.--sometimes even that, which is not their own. for the gambling madness is as strong within them when betting on the weather as on the sweepstakes on tho Calcutta Cup.—New York Herald.