Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/315

 During the afternoon I had an opportunity of seeing and taking part in the great game of dorris, so popular among the young people of the period. It is difficult to describe clearly, but might be fairly described as a sort. of complicated game resembling Jawn-tennis. An extensive level space was marked off by white lines into a hundred squares, each about twelve yards square. In each of these a young lady, and her partner assigned for the day, took their stand, to defend it against the pair facing them in the next square. Squares were lost or won, much as a game of tennis among us, by the more or less skilful use of the raquet, the line between the squares taking the place of the net. The defeated players relinquished their square to the victors, who attacked in their turn the next defended square before them; taking care, however, to avoid the risk of capture by separating too far from the rest of their side.

The captains were enabled to distinguish their players, fifty pairs of each, by their colors. The victory depended upon the skill of the captain in disposing his or her best players to the best advantage, and in effecting skilful combinations according to certain rules. One great object for any given pair of players was, to work their way to the farther end of their row. In this case they could be placed by their captain on any unoccupied square where they could do most damage to the enemy. The game, the zeruan and their allies against the vioran and theirs, was contested with great spirit on both sides. Reva and I had the skill, or good fortune, to capture three squares before being, in our turn, retired, till summoned by our captain to take the place of a pair on our side requiring rest.