Page:Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje - The Achehnese Vol II. - tr. Arthur Warren Swete O'Sullivan (1906).djvu/211

 rattan) is thrown into the air by one of the players, after which it is kept going by a smart blow with the hand, all the players doing their best to keep it flying by fresh buffets.

There is another game of meulagi in which a ball (bòh) is thrown up and driven off with a sort of bat (gò) by one side, and then struck back by the other. A variety of this in which a stick about ¾, of a yard long serves as gò and a shorter stick as bòh, is known as meusinggam.

The Achehnese have a combination of our hide and seek and prisoners-base in their mupét-pét or meukō-kō, which both girls and boys play together. Two sides of equal number are formed. The first go and hide in different places, while meantime the second keep their eyes shut or their backs turned. One player of the hiding side, however, stays and keeps watch at the bu, for which a tree or some similar object is selected. When the hiders call kō, the seeking begins. The hidden ones however keep leaving their hiding places to "go and eat rice" (pajōh bu), that is to say they run with all possible speed to the tree, when they are safe from being touched by their opponents. If one of the latter succeeds in touching the body of any of the adverse side, or in taking possession of the tree (bu) at a moment when it is left unguarded, the players then change places, and the former seekers must go and hide in their turn.

Meuraja-raja biséʾ (or liséʾ or siséʾ) is another game played by the children of both sexes. Between two sides of equal number stands a neutral raja, sometimes supported by a couple of meuntròës (mantris or ministers) to prevent unfairness on his part.

Each side has also a nang ("mother" or leader) who directs the game rather than takes part in it.

Those on one side choose by agreement which of their fellows is to be pushed into the midst by the nang; and this is secretly communicated to the raja.