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We love play because it satisfies our avarice；that is to say；
our desire of having more； it flatters our vanity by the idea of
preference that fortune gives us； and of the attention that
others pay to our success； it satisfies our curiosity； giving us
a spectacle； in short； it gives us the different pleasures of
surprise。
Certain it is that the passion for gambling easily gets deeply
rooted； and that it cannot be easily eradicated。 The most
exquisite melody； if compared with the music of dice； is then but
discord； and the finest prospect in nature only a miserable blank
when put in competition with the attractions of the ‘honours' at
a rubber of Whist。
Wealth is the general centre of inclination。 Whatever is the
ultimate design； the immediate care is to be rich。 No desire can
be formed which riches do not assist to gratify。 They may be
considered as the elementary principles of pleasure； which may be
combined with endless diversity。 There are nearer ways to profit
than up the steeps of labour。 The prospect of gaining speedily
what is ardently desired； has so far prevailed upon the
passions of mankind； that the peace of life is destroyed by a
general and incessant struggle for riches。 It is observed of
gold by an old epigrammatist； that to have is to be in fear； and
to want it is to be in sorrow。 There is no condition which is
not disquieted either with the care of gaining or keeping money。
No nation has exceeded ours in the pursuit of gaming。 In former
timesand yet not more than 30 or 40 years agothe passion for
play was predominant among the highest classes。
Genius and abilities of the highest order became its votaries；
and the very framers of the laws against gambling were the first
to fall under the temptation of their breach！ The spirit of
gambling pervaded every inferior order of society。 The gentleman
was a slave to its indulgence； the merchant and the mechanic were
the dupes of its imaginary prospects； it engrossed the citizen
and occupied the rustic。 Town and country became a prey to its
despotism。 There was scarcely an obscure village to be found
wherein this bewitching basilisk did not exercise its powers of
fascination and destruction。
Gaming in England became rather a science than an amusement
of social intercourse。 The ‘doctrine of chances' was studied
with an assiduity that would have done honour to better subjects；
and calculations were made on arithmetical and geometrical
principles； to determine the degrees of probability attendant on
games of mixed skill and chance； or even on the fortuitous throws
of dice。 Of course； in spite of all calculations； there were
miserable failuresfrightful losses。 The polite gamester； like
the savage； did not scruple to hazard the dearest interests of
his family； or to bring his wife and children to poverty； misery；
and ruin。 He could not give these over in liquidation of a
gambling debt； indeed； nobody would； probably； have them at a
gift； and yet there were instances in which the honour of a wife
was the stake of the infernal game！ 。 。 。 。 Well might the
Emperor Justinian exclaim；‘Can we call _PLAY_ that which
causes crime？'＇14＇
＇14＇ Quis enim ludos appellet eos； ex quibus crimina
oriuntur？_De Concept。 Digest_。 II。 lib。 iv。 Sec。 9。
CHAPTER II。
GAMBLING AMONG THE ANCIENT HINDOOS。A HINDOO
LEGEND AND ITS MODERN PARALLEL。
The recent great contribution to the history of India； published
by Mr Wheeler；＇15＇ gives a complete insight into this interesting
topic； and this passage of the ancient Sanskrit epic forms one of
the most wonderful and thrilling scenes in that most acceptable
publication。
＇15＇ The History of India from the Earliest Ages。 By J。
Talboys Wheeler。 Vol。 I。The Vedic Period and the Maha Bharata。
As Mr Wheeler observes； the specialties of Hindoo gambling are
worthy of some attention。 The passion for play； which has ever
been the vice of warriors in times of peace； becomes a madness
amidst the lassitude of a tropical climate； and more than one
Hindoo legend has been preserved of Rajas playing together for
days； until the wretched loser has been deprived of
everything he possessed and reduced to the condition of an exile
or a slave。
But gambling amongst the Hindoos does not appear to have been
altogether dependent upon chance。 The ancient Hindoo dice； known
by the name of coupun； are almost precisely similar to the modern
dice； being thrown out of a box； but the practice of loading is
plainly alluded to； and some skill seems to have been
occasionally exercised in the rattling of the dice…box。 In the
more modern game； known by the name of pasha； the dice are not
cubic； but oblong； and they are thrown from the hand either
direct upon the ground； or against a post or board； which will
break the fall； and render the result more a matter of chance。
The great gambling match of the Hindoo epic was the result of a
conspiracy to ruin Yudhishthira； a successful warrior； the
representative of a mighty familythe Pandavas； who were
incessantly pursued by the envy of the Kauravas； their rivals。
The fortunes of the Pandavas were at the height of human
prosperity； and at this point the universal conception of an
avenging Nemesis that humbles the proud and casts down the
mighty； finds full expression in the Hindoo epic。 The grandeur
of the Pandavas excited the jealousy of Duryodhana； and
revived the old feud between the Kauravas and the former。
Duryodhana plotted with his brother Duhsasana and his uncle
Sakuni； how they might dispossess the Pandavas of their newly…
acquired territory； and at length they determined to invite their
kinsmen to a gambling match； and seek by underhand means to
deprive Yudhishthira of his Raj； or kingdom。＇16＇
＇16＇ The old Sanskrit words _Raj_； ‘kingdom；' and Raja；
‘king；' are evidently the origin of the Latin _reg…num； reg…o；
rex； regula_； ‘rule；' &c； reproduced in the words of that ancient
language； and continued in the derivative vernaculars of modern
names_re； rey； roy； roi； regal； royal； rule_； &c。 &c。
It appears from the poem that Yudhishthira was invited to a game
at coupun； and the legend of the great gambling match； which took
place at Hastinapur； is related as follows：
‘And it came to pass that Duryodhana was very jealous of the
_Rajasuya_ or triumph that his cousin Yudhishthira had performed；
and he desired in his heart to destroy the Pandavas； and gain
possession of their Raj。 Now Sakuni was the brother of Gandhari；
who was the mother of the Kauravas； and he was very skilful in
throwing dice； and in playing with dice that were loaded；
insomuch that whenever he played he always won the game。 So
Duryodhana plotted with his uncle； that Yudhishthira should be
invited to a match at gambling； and that Sakuni should challenge
him to a game； and win all his wealth and lands。
‘After this the wicke