3. Daun tiga 'lei or Pakau is played here as follows:--

Three cards are dealt by the dealer to each player, and the winner is he who holds the greatest number of pips, with certain exceptions. Daun t'rus The best hand is three aces (tiga sat). The next is three threes (tiga jalor). The next is three tens (tiga puloh). The next is three court-cards (tiga angkong or tiga kuda). Of other hands the best is a remainder of nine pips left after deducting ten from a hand of nineteen pips. The next is a remainder of eight pips, and so on. A hand of three threes, it will be observed, is the second best hand in Selangor, whereas in Perak, according to Sir W. E. Maxwell, it is thrown away as the worst. The stakes, which are deposited in two heaps by each player, are here called kapala or "head," and buntut (or ekor), the "tail," respectively; the kapala being generally, though perhaps not always, greater than the ekor in Selangor, instead of the reverse. The latter can only be lost when a player sweeps the board. A single stake, again, is podul (or occasionally tual), but bertuwi is applied to betting between players, and sorong or tokong means to put down a stake before your rival replies with a counter-stake (berteban or topah). A player who holds thirty exactly is not out here--e.g., he may hold a court-card and two tens. To look at the bottom card is menengo' angkatan. Sir W. E. Maxwell gives a number of names and phrases applied to particular cards and combinations of cards, to which I may add-- Two nines and a two--China Keh mengandar ayer. An eight and an ace (making nine) with a court-card, or a ten and two nines--Sembilang bertelor. Two court-cards and a nine--Parak hari 'nak siang. The four of any suit--Tiang jamban Lebai `Ali. The explanation of handak kaki tiga, as applied to an eight, appears to be that the eight has three pips on each side. It is also called berisi sa-b'lah. Minta' penoh (I ask for a full one) means I want a nine (?), and minta' tombak (I ask for a lance), I want two pips (or three, as the case may be). Besides the above, there are miniature or bijou cards (cheki)--e.g. cheki dua-b'las, cheki lima-b'las and 'tan or beretan daun sambilan, etc., the daun cheki being distinguished by their borders, e.g. iyu kuching, iyu nyonya, iyu panjang, iyu merak besar, iyu kasut; and again gapet, gapet k'rang, gapet rintek, gapet lichin; babi, babi rintek, babi pusat, babi lichin; kau merah, kau bulat, kau lichin; layer, layer rintek, layer pitis, layer lichin. Six to seven people play these games. A sort of whist is also played from time to time under the name of main trup. At this game a trick is called sapudi; to sweep the board is pukol tani; and the players who get no tricks at all are said to be sold up (kena kot). [709] Children's Games I will now give some specimens of the games I have seen played by children:-- "Throwing the Flower across" (champak bunga sa-b'lah) is a game which I have seen thus played by boys. A handkerchief was twisted up (like a rope) from corner to corner, folded in half, and then tied together at the ends. Two couples stood facing one another at a few yards' distance, and at a given signal one of the boys in each couple took his companion up on to his shoulders. The two who were mounted threw the handkerchief across to each other, and back again by turns. When the one failed to catch it, both riders dismounted and offered backs to their late "mounts," who thus became riders, and threw the handkerchief in their turn. Each time, however, that a catch was made both parties crossed over. When three catches were made in unbroken succession (kelerik) the riders had the privilege of being carried across three times before recommencing play. I should add that a coin was tossed up at the outset of the game to decide who were to start as the riders, and who were to be the ridden. Main Sesel (or Kachau kueh) bears a strong family resemblance to our own "Hen and chickens." When I witnessed it, a big boy played the "Paterfamilias" with a string of children at his back, each of whom was holding on to the one in front of him. Presently a "Cakeseller" presented himself, and the following conversation ensued:-- Paterfamilias: Ada kueh? (Have you any cake?) Cakeseller: Ada. (I have.) P.F.: Buleh aku b'li? (Can I buy some?) C.: Buleh. (Yes.) Here the Cakeseller hands a ball of earth to Paterfamilias, who passes it down the line of children to the youngest child at the end of the row. The conversation then recommenced-- Cakeseller: Aku minta' duit. (I want my money.) P.F.: Duit t'ada, anak kunchi tinggal di jamban. (I have got no money, I have mislaid the key.) Kalau mahu ambil budak, ambil yang di-b'lakang. (If you wish to take one of my children, take the last.) Here a desperate effort was made by the poor Cakeseller to dodge past Paterfamilias and get at the boy, whom he eventually succeeded in carrying off. Main Tul is a game somewhat resembling our own "Puss in the corner," but with only one "home." The "home" consisted of a stake planted upright, and the first "Puss" (orang tul) was selected by a species of divination depending upon repetition of the same formula as is used to select the blind man in Blind Man's Buff (Main China Buta). There was (as I have said) only one home in this game, from which the players sallied forth to taunt the orang tul, and which they were obliged to touch in order to save themselves when closely pursued. Main Seladang (Wild Bull game) is an excellent game for children with the shoeless feet of the East. A "wild bull" having been selected by repetition of the Ping hilang formula, went upon all fours, and entered into the following conversation between himself and one of the other players specially selected for the purpose. The latter opened negotiations with the clearly non-committal, if not very lucid remark, "Tam tam kul" to which the "Bull" replied, "Buat apa guna bakul" (What are you going to do with your basket?) Boy: Mengisi arang. (To hold charcoal.) Bull: Buat apa guna arang? (What will you do with the charcoal?) Boy: Menempa (or masak) lembing. (I shall forge a spear.) Bull: Buat apa guna lembing? (What use will you make of the spear?) Boy: Menikam seladang. (To stab a bull with.) Bull (who is getting excited): Buat apa guna di-tikam? (What use will it be to stab him?) Boy: Mengambil hati-nya. (To get his heart.) Bull (who is now fairly savage): Buat apa guna hati-nya? (What use will you make of his heart?) Boy: Buat santap Raja Muda. (Get the Crown Prince to partake (of it).) The Bull at the end of this baiting was ready to "charge" anybody and everything, and did accordingly run at the rest of the players, kicking out with all his might at anybody who came near. As he had to move on all fours he could not go very fast, and the other players took advantage of this to bait him still further by slapping him on the back and jumping over him. Whenever they came near enough he lashed out with his heels, and when he succeeded in kicking another player below the knee, the latter became a Bull in his turn. Much agility is displayed in this game, which is thoroughly enjoyed by the players. "Blind Man's Buff" (Main China Buta, or "Blind Chinaman") is played in exactly the same manner as our own Blind Man's Buff; one of the party, with bandaged eyes, being required to catch any one who comes near him. The first blind man--at the commencement of the game--is chosen as follows: the intending players sit down together in a close circle, each of them putting down the tips of their forefingers in the centre of the circle; then somebody who is not playing taps each of them on the head in turn, repeating at each tap a word of the following formula:-- 1 2 3 4 ping hilang patah paku plate (=piring?) disappear break nail 5 6 7 8 dalam biling chhari aku within chamber (=bilek?) search for me 9 10 11 12 ping 'dah 'ning 'dah got clear(?) got 13 hilang. disappear. The meaning of this formula (as is the case with so many "nursery" rhymes) is very obscure, several words being unintelligible or at least doubtful. It is, however, the regular formula used for such games and is quite common. [710] Chan chan siku rembat is a game which I saw played in Selangor as follows:-- The intending players stood in a row, looking straight in front of them, but with their hands behind their backs, whilst another boy, who had a piece of wood in his hand, walked down the line touching their hands and counting as he went the words of the following refrain:-- 1 2 3 4 chan chan siku rembat 5 6 7 8 buah lalu di- b'lakang the fruit (or ball) is passing behind (you) 9 10 11 12 mata pejam tangan lihat your eyes (are) closed (but your) hand sees! 13 14 15 16 siapa chepat dia melompat whoever (is) nimble (let) him take the leap. The "fruit" (or piece of wood, as the case may be) was left in the palm of one of the boys, and as soon as the reciter came to the end of the rhyme the boy with the token had to jump out of the ranks before he was stopped by the boys on each side of him, each of whom suddenly stretched out his legs for the purpose of tripping up the runaway. When they touched him he lost his turn, but if he succeeded in getting clear without being touched he obtained the privilege of going to the other end of the ground and calling any boy he chose out of the ranks to carry him back again, at the invitation of the late spokesman. On his return he was stopped in front of the ranks with the challenge:-- Q. Datang de'mana? (Whence do you come?) A. Datang de' Bali. (I come from Bali.) Q. Apa di-bawa? (What do you bring?) A. Bawa kuali. (I bring a cooking-pot.) Q. Siapa nakhoda? (Who is the master (of the vessel)?) A. Nakhoda 'Che `Ali. ('Che `Ali is the master.) Q. Mana sampan tunda? (Where is the boat you were towing?) A. Putus tali. (Parted from the rope.) Q. Mana pas? (Where is your pass?) In reply to this last question the pass (i.e. the fruit or piece of wood) was shown and both boys rejoined the ranks, whereupon the game recommenced da capo. Hantu Musang or "The Pole-cat Fiend," is a game in which a boy sits down (between two others) with a cloth thrown over his head, the ends of which are twisted up (like rope ends) by the two boys on each side of him; the cloth fits his head like a cap, with a long end at the back and in front. First the boy in front pulls his end of the cloth and then the boy at the back pulls his end, thus causing the boy between them to rock to and fro. This treatment is continued for some time while they repeat the following rhyme:-- Chok gelechok .... Gali-gali ubi. A-digging tapioca Mana kayu bongkok Wherever (there is) knotted timber Disitu musang jadi. There the pole-cat breeds. Chang gulichang .... Serak bunga lada Scatter (?) pepper-blossom. Datang hantu musang The pole-cat fiend has arrived Ayam sa'ekor t'ada. And not a fowl is left. As soon as this rhyme is finished the two outside boys make off as fast as they can, pursued by the "pole-cat," who is allowed to give a really good bite (in the arm) to the first person he overtakes. Main Tunggul.--This game I saw played with four boys a side. A boy was selected to represent the tunggul or stump, and took up his position at a little distance (about half-way between the two parties as they stood facing each other a few yards apart). Up to the stump (tunggul) a boy from each of the sides alternately ran and whispered the name of a boy belonging to the opposite party. This whispering was continued until the names of the two boys selected happened to agree, the tunggul then making a gesture, at which the boys of one of the sides crossed over and carried back on their shoulders the boys belonging to the opposite side. Kuching (the Cat Game) was a mere guessing game. The "guesser," or witness (saksi), stood at a little distance with his face turned away whilst another boy was selected to play "puss," and yet another boy was permitted to twitch him on the ear or wherever else he might prefer. Then the "witness" was told to turn round, and going up to the "cat" he made his guess. Sorok-sorok is merely the Malay equivalent of our hide-and-seek, with the exception that whereas hide-and-seek may be played by day as well as by night, the game of sorok-sorok should properly be played at night alone. Main Galah Panjang.--A square of ground is marked out into four quarters by a cross (as in the accompanying figure), and on it a game not unlike our own "Tom Tiddler's Ground" is played (by three players on each side). The name means the "Long Pole" game. Another child's game is called Sanebang, and is played as follows:-- Two players sit down on the floor facing each other and chant the following rhyme, one of them lightly touching the other's left arm in time to the music:-- Sanebang sanebu Sanebang! sanebu! Kuala Sambau At the mouth of the (river) Sambau Ujan bunut In the drizzling rain Mandi katong Bathes the Katong, [711] Sentak pelok Twitch and embrace Tangan Tuan Putri The Princess's hand. The well-known game called Sapu-sapu 'Ringin I have seen played as follows:-- Two players sit down on the floor opposite each other, with their legs stretched out straight in front of them and their hands in their laps, and join in singing these lines:-- Sapu-sapu beringin, Brush, brush the banyan-tree, Katimbun dayong-dayong, A pile of oars lies stacked; Datang 'Che Aji Lebai Here comes 'Che Aji Lebai Bawa buaya kudong. Bringing a maimed crocodile: Kudong kaki, kudong tangan, Maimed in foot and maimed in hand, Tiada buleh berpulangan. It can't go home again. Here both players double up one leg under them as they sit; then they repeat the lines just quoted, doubling up the left leg at the end of the recital; then they close the fists and pile them one on each other, the lowest resting on one of the player's knees, and say-- Pong along-along ...... Kerinting riang-riang, Crick-crick (?) (sing) the crickets (?) Ketapong kebalok ...... Minyak `Arab, minyak sapi, Arabian oil and ghee; [712] Pechah telor sa-biji. Here's one egg broken. Here the lowest fist is flattened out. In the same way each of the four eggs (i.e. fists) is broken till the top is reached, when the four hands are moved up and down on the left knee of one of the players as the chant recommences-- P'ram p'ram pisang ... the plantain, Masak sa-biji di-gonggong bari-bari The fruit-bat seizes a ripe one, Bawa lari, And takes it away Terbang-lah dia! As off he flies! Here both players raise their hands above their heads; then one player commences to rock to and fro (with arms now folded), the other holding him (or her) by the arms and crying-- Goyang-goyang Pah Ponggor Swing, swing, Father Ponggor; Pah Ponggor mati akar! Father Ponggor, the climbing rattan is dead! Si `Ali ka padang Si `Ali's gone to the plain, [Di-]tudongkan daun Sheltered by the leaves, Sa-hari ta' makan, With nothing to eat for a day, Ta' makan sa-tahun. Nothing to eat for a year. Here they hook their little fingers together, and rock their bodies to and fro, singing-- Angkei-angkei p'riok ... the cooking-pot, P'riok deri Jawa The cooking-pot from Java; Datang 'Wa' Si Bagok Here comes Uncle Bagok Bawa ketam sa'ekor: Bringing a crab. Chepong masok ayer, A dish (?) to put water in, Chepong masok api, A dish (?) to put fire in, O nenek, O nenek, O granny, O granny, Rumah kita 'nak runtoh! Our house is tumbling down. Reh! Reh! Rum! . . . . . . Finally they sit still with hands clasped on knees, and sing-- Nuria! Nuria! . . . . . . Tali timba 'ku The rope of my bucket, 'Nak 'nimba lubok dalam, To draw water from a deep hole, Dalam sama tengah, Right in the middle of it, Saput awan tolih mega. Veiled by the clouds, looking up at (?) the welkin. [713] Of minor children's games the following may be mentioned:-- (1) Tuju (not tujoh, [714]) lobang, which appears to be identifiable with "Koba," and which is played by throwing coins as near as possible to a hole (or holes?) in the ground. (2) Chimplek, which is a sort of "heads and tails" game; "heads" being called chaping, and "tails" sim. (3) Porok, which consists in kicking (with the side of the foot) a small cocoa-nut shell, with the object of hitting a similar shell a few yards off. This game appears to be identical with what is called main gayau in Selangor, in which, however, a fruit or seed called buah gandu is substituted for the cocoa-nut shell and propelled by the big toe of the player's foot. (4) Main seremban, which is played with cockle-shells by two girls at a time, each player taking twenty cockle-shells (kulit k'rang) into her lap. Each player in turn has to toss up one of the cockle-shells and catch, simultaneously snatching a fresh shell from the heap. If the girl who is playing fails in either task, she loses to her opponent.