Page:The nomads of the Balkans, an account of life and customs among the Vlachs of Northern Pindus (1914).djvu/64

 sitting down. When this game is played by ten or a dozen young men the fun is fast and furious, and the great delight of all is to wait for a favourable opportunity to spring upon the watcher’s back and bring him to the ground. He who does this is for the time being safe according to the rules and the others can rush in and buffet the seated player as they please, till the watcher can resume his station. Another favourite is that known as ku Gămila (With the Camel). One player bends forward, another comes behind him and also bends down chitching the first round the waist, behind the second come two or three more in a similar position. Another is chosen as watcher and he, undoing his long sash, fastens one end to the waist of the last of the four bending down, and holds the other end himself driving this unwieldy camel about. The members of the other side dart in and out first on one side and then on the other, each attempting to elude the watcher and jump on the camel’s back, a proceeding which most likely will bring all to the ground in inextricable confusion. The watcher in the meantime runs about as far on either side as the length of the sash allows and tries to hit one of the others with his foot. If he succeeds the other side have to make up a camel and the one hit becomes the watcher. In this game too hits upon the hand do not count. The third most popular game is that called Stun Gutso, which will be recognised as a Greek name meaning At the Lame Man. The players divide into two parties and mark out with stones a space which in area is probably equal to about a quarter of a lawn-tennis court. At one point on the edge of this a sort of base is marked off. In the base the players of one side stand while the others move freely about the rest of the space marked off. Then those in the base each in turn come hopping about the rest of the area and try to hit one of the others with foot or hand anywhere, but on their hands. The hopper must not change the foot on which he hops nor must he put his foot to the ground. If he breaks this rule his innings is over and another member of the side takes his place and so on till all have had an innings or till all the other party have been caught. The side in the field may run and