that, when they had lost every thing else, they staked their personal
liberty, and, in the event of bad fortune, became the slaves of the
winners.

D'Israeli, in his curiosities of literature, has given us the following
account. "Dice, says he, and that little pugnacious animal, the cock,
are the chief instruments employed by the numerous nations of the east,
to agitate their minds, and ruin their fortunes, to which the Chinese,
who are desperate gamesters, add the use of cards. When all other
property is played away, the Asiatic gambler does not scruple to stake
his wife, or his child, on the cast of a dye, or on the strength and
courage of a martial bird. If still unsuccessful, the last venture is
himself."

"In the island of Ceylon, cock-fighting is carried to a great height.
The Sumatrans are addicted to the use of dice. A strong spirit of play
characterizes the Malayan. After having resigned every thing to the good
fortune of the winner, he is reduced to a horrid state of desperation.
He then loosens a certain lock of hair, which indicates war and
destruction to all he meets. He intoxicates himself with opium, and
working himself to a fit of frenzy, he bites and kills every one, who
comes in his way. But as soon as ever this lock is seen flowing, it is
lawful to fire at the person, and to destroy him as soon as possible."

"To discharge their gambling debts, the Siamese sell their possessions,
their families, and at length themselves. The Chinese play night and
day, till they have lost all they are worth, and then they usually go
and hang themselves. In the newly discovered islands of the Pacific
Ocean, they venture even their hatchets, which they hold as invaluable
acquisitions, on running matches. We saw a man, says Cooke, in his last