Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 16, 1905.djvu/113

 Collectanea. 9 1

provided with a barrow. If there was only one barrow, each took it in turn, but more than one might start at the same time. The object was, starting from one end of the ground to run the wheel-barrow up against the post at the other. Obstacles might be laid down between the stakes to increase the difficulty. In Cowal this was a common competition on New- Year's Day.

Other indoor games blindfolded were — Cleas a' Bhuilgein {biiille, 'a stroke,' builgea?i, 'a tap, a little stroke'.)

The chosen one of the party playing knelt down with both hands extended behind the back touching each other, palms upwards. The other players struck with the open palm the hands of the blindfolded one, one player at a time, after each stroke the kneeler being expected to say who gave the blow. If the guess were correct, the striker and the kneeler changed places and only after a correct guess was the kneeler relieved. This was played in Barra.

Soldiers.

A pencil and paper or slate are necessary. Two parallel columns of figures are written down, say Os and Xs, at a slight distance apart, three-eighths of an inch perhaps, one below the other, a dot being marked over the topmost figure of each column. The length of the column would depend on the size of the paper or slate. Each figure was a 'soldier.' The first to play being arranged for, he was blindfolded and the point of his pencil put on the dot above one of the columns. He then drew his pencil down trying to run it through as many 'soldiers' as possible. The other player then had his chance, and they played alternately for the number of strokes fixed on before commencing, it might be three or four. The one whose pencil passed through most soldiers was the winner.

There is a very similar game in which rapidity of motion and not want of sight is employed to make the scoring uncertain. There are two columns of figures for each player, and a captain is marked in front of the centre of each column.