Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/95

Rh keeps him thus in penance whilst he counts a given number. If he fails to keep it up rightly he descends, and the other boy takes his place.

A Unnici e venti, a Travu longu, is a form of leapfrog.

A ca passa lu diavolo.—This is a piece of merry southern levity.

Two rows of boys standing opposite to each other join their arms so as to form a gallery. Then the leader takes a boy on his shoulders, letting his legs hang down on his chest, and passes under the gallery (or arch), saying, "St. John (or whatever else the boy's name) passes." The others, giving him a gentle knock in the ribs, say, "Let him pass." The leader repeats this proceeding with other boys, saying, "St. Joseph passes," and so on for seven or eight times. Then he essays with another, using the formula, Ah ca passa lu diavolo (Now comes the devil), and thereupon all the boys pitch into both, and the game ends in a romp. This is a very popular pastime.

A Tila, tila, tila.

This is our "Oranges and Lemons," so dear to both sexes in England. Several boys play. Two are chosen to be chief and under-chief. All take each other by the hand and form a long chain, the extremities of which are held by the two chiefs, the first of whom starts with the other the following dialogue: 1. "Tila, tila, tila." 2. "Half an ell of tila." 1. "What will you pay me for it?" 2. "Three tari and a half." 1. "I cannot give it you for that." 2. "What music do you wish, the violin or the big drum?"

If the under-chief says "Violin," the other holding his comrade by the hand says, "Zu, zu, zu" (in imitation of the instrument). If the boy says "Grancascia" (big drum), his companion says, "Buhm, buhm," and draws away the boy and those who are held by him, and passes with them under the arms of the first two at the other extremity, and so on with the others until they are all turned round.

A toccamuru.—This is our "touch." A boy must touch the wall or he is caught, and consequently "out."

A la tappina is hunt the slipper, and requires no further specification.

A lu Castellu is our simple romp, "I'm king of the castle." Dr. Pitrè justly observes of it: "It is a game of strength, agility, and dexterity," viz. in storming and defending the "castle," which is