CHESS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 



683 



Children and gamblers in the cities commonly use short blocks. In 

 the country, long blocks or staves, called tjyang-tjali-mjout (Plate 1, 

 fig. 2), are employed. These are usually about 8 inches in leugth. 

 In throwing them, one is often 

 placed across the others, which 

 are held lengthwise in the hand 

 by the thumb, with the ends 

 resting on the fingers (Plate 1, 

 fig. 3). The game is played 

 in the country by all classes, 

 but only from the fifteenth of 

 the twelfth to the fifteenth of 

 the first month. 



The names applied to the 

 throws are not Korean or Chi- 

 nese, but are numerals which 

 correspond closely with the cor- 

 responding numerals of certain 

 Ural-Altaic stocks.' 



References to games played 

 with staves, of the same gen- 

 eral character as Nyoiit, occur 

 in Chinese literature, where 

 they are attributed to a foreign 

 origin. 



It is customary in Korea to 

 use the long blocks at the fif- 

 teenth of first month for the 

 purpose of divination. Early 

 in this month a small book is 

 sold in the markets of Seoul to 

 be used in connection with 

 them. The players throw the 

 staves three times, noting the 

 number that is counted for the. 

 throw at each fall. The series 



three numbers is then referred to the book upon the several pages of 

 which are printed in Chinese characters all the various permutations of 



Fig. 3. 



FIRST PAGE OF TJYEK-SA-TJYEM. 



Korean handbook for divination with staves. 



lu the author's collection. From Korean Games. 



' Dr. Daniel Ci. lirinton, who kindly compared them, tells me that the first three 

 have rather close analogies Avith the Ural-Altaic, while the "four," and perhaps the 

 "five," seem connected with the Samoyed: 



