Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/94

86 time for adults. In a lu Turnu the circle or hole is larger, and the hitting is done with a ladle (mestola).

A la morti o a quartaccio.

This is by necessity played in towns. Some boys, undeterred by the sanitary scruples of the age, assemble round one of the large flat stones (lastre) which cover drains in a city. Such a stone is usually pierced with five round holes, or with three horizontal slits called by the boys morti. The first player, from a point agreed upon, pitches a ball (or an orange) at one of these holes. If it stops there the boy scores, and then tries for the other holes after the same fashion.

Sometimes the necessary holes are not found ready made, but have to be made in the ground (a li casseddi.)

A gnicchiu o palasu. This game has more interest for us, as we shall see. Two longitudinal lines are marked upon the ground, and are divided into transverse sections, so as to form from seven to nine compartments called nicchie. The first player drops a little disc (palasu) into the first niche, and then hops on one leg, holding the other leg well up, into the first niche, and kicks the palasu into the second and other niches. He must not touch the line or put down his foot except at the fourth niche, otherwise he is out.

At this part of his book Dr. Pitrè appends an interesting phototype of boys, some playing, and others looking on at the game (our hopscotch).

A lu Balluni is our football.

A Manciugghia is something like the much-dreaded tipcat of our London streets.

A Bocci e a Ravigghia is a rudimentary croquet.

A la Strummula is spinning-top playing in all its displays of dexterity.

A Cancara e bella and a Gadduzza are "Buck, buck, how many horns do I hold up?"

A Bue is "Hide and seek."

Ad attuppa occhi, ad accetta canuncce nuddu, a caca linusa, Piunu russu, are "Blindman's buff" and "Puss in the corner."

A Setamuru, a Tintiriuti.

In these two games a boy mounts the back of another boy and