Page:String Figures and How to Make Them.djvu/313

274 strings forming the base of this triangle (the corresponding side of the central lozenge) (Fig. 629), and pulls these strings down and toward him, letting the loops slip off the thumb (Fig. 630).

Each person now puts each thumb from below into the loop held by the index and middle finger and withdraws these fingers.

Fourth: Repeat the Third movement nine times.

Fifth: The figure is now laid down, and all the fingers are withdrawn. If you are careful, the top half of the figure can now be lifted up and opened out like a book, when it will be seen that you have again the original "Turtle" figure (Fig. 631), from which these movements can be again repeated.

The Moros, who showed me this figure, appeared to take great delight in doing it; and they were much surprised to see Dr. Furness form it from the "Turtle." They always repeated the Third movement nineteen times, so we might more properly call the figure "Twenty Times," but in the Caroline Islands it is universally done ten times. As a matter of fact the figure will succeed if the movement be done any even number of times.