Modern craps is an American descendant of an old game called "hazard." This high risk game was immensely popular in Europe during the Middle Ages, and it is said that entire fortunes and estates were lost on the outcome of the dice. During the 19th century, hazard came to New Orleans, where the rules were somewhat simplified. From the very moment it was introduced, the simplicity and fast pace of the game appealed to everyone, but it is especially associated with African Americans, who have been responsible for many of the colloquialisms that add so much to the game's personality. It was not uncommon for men who worked in the lumberyard camps on the Mississippi River to be paid in quarters and half-dollars to make betting easier. The games in such camps typically began Saturday nights and ended Monday mornings.