Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 16, 1905.djvu/398

 34^ Collectanea.

out a marble he may endeavour to catch his playing bool as it rebounds from the wall, and with a view to this contingency the thrower always follows up his knicker ; if he catches it he has another shot. If he fails on the rebound either to strike out a marble or catch the one he is playing with, the next player has his turn.

MENTAL AGILITY.

(P. 169, after line 16.)

The following may be called an Imitative Game but we classify it here because the players get no lead showing the motions expected. " Dh'iarr MacShimein a bhi 'g obair, dh'iarr e leigeil 's dh'iarr e togail." (MacSimein wanted working, he wanted throw- ing down, and he wanted raising.)

This is an inside game played in Uist. The player taking the the part of MacSimein holds in his hand a switch, a sea-tangle, a knotted handkerchief with which to punish those making mis- takes, and for convenience of this all the others playing are arranged in full view. All being ready to start, MacSimein shouts " Dh'iarr MacShimein a bhi 'g obair." (MacSimein looks for working.) The whole company put their hands in rapid motion as if working at something. MacSimein then says e.g. " Dh'iarr MacShimein a bhi leigeil^' on which the whole company will imitate the motions of pulling something down. MacSimein continues ordering various movements, togail, cireadh, sniomh, fuaighael, sabhadh etc. (building up, carding, spinning, sewing, sawing, etc.); he may order what he likes and makes his changes as rapid and unforeseen as possible, the workers having to change with a like rapidity. The action of their hands must never cease. Any failure draws down instant punishment, MacSimein whacking the offender with his switch or whatever the instrument he is provided with.

The mental agility in the following is shown in the extem- porized bargaining which is an incident in the game.

A' Chailleach a bha bleth. (The Old Wife grinding.)

An inside game played in Barra. The players sit in a circle, except one, who at first "takes a back seat." One of those in the