CHESS AND PLAYING-CARDS. 833 



contain words arranged so as to make a fall sentence with tliirty-six 

 letters. The rules of the games played u])oii tliese tables are as yet 

 only conjectural. 



The game of Duodecim scripta, "twelve lines," was substantially tbe 

 same as our backgammon. It was played upon a board with twelve 

 double lines, with fifteen white and fifteen black men; the throws were 

 counted as we count tliem; the "blots" might bo captured; the pieces 

 (whether they started from home or not) had to be brought home, and 

 the winner was he who first cleared off his men. The principal varia- 

 tion from the modern game lies in three dice being emi^loyed instead 

 of two, agreeing in this respect with the game of FacJdsi (ISlo. 38). 

 According to Heroditus^ games with dice (including also knuckle- 

 bones and ball) were invented by the Lydians as a diversion during a 

 time of famine, that they might not feel the craving for food. 



19. Shik Tsai.^ Dice. China. 



Cubes of boue, regularly marked, but differing from those of India 

 in having both the "ones" and "fours" marked in red; the "one" spots 

 larger than the others, and in all the spots being simple round marks, 

 without circumscribed circles. They are not made in pairs, and are 

 usually sold in sets of six. 



The Chinese play a great variety of dice-games, the principal one 

 being with two dice, and known as Chdlc f mlMu, "Throwing Heavens 

 and Nines," from the names of the two highest throws. In this game 

 the twenty-one throws that can be made with two dice receive different 

 names, and are divided into two series or suites, called man, "civil," 

 and md, "military." 



The eleven Man throws in the order of their rank are : 



"Double six," called fin, "Heaveu." 



'•'Double one," called ti, "Earth." 



"Double four," called yan, "Man." 



"One, three," called wo, "Harmony." 



"Double five," called miH, "plum flower." 



"Double three," called chcung sum, "long threes." 



"Double two," called jjrt'/j tan(j, "bench." 



"Five, six," called//? fan, "tiger's head." 



" Four, 8ix," called hung fau sliap, "red head ten." 



"One, six," called lb li'ulc ts'at, '-'long leg scA^en." 



"One, five," called Tiung ch'iii liiTc, "red mallet six." 



The ten Mo throws in the order of their rank are: 



"Five, four," and "six, three," called 1:1111, "nines." 



"Five, three," and "six, two," called pat, "eights." 



"Five, two," and "four, three," called is at, "sevens." 



"Four, two," called luh, "six." 



"Three, two," and "four, one," called 'ng, "fives." 



"One, two," called sdm, "three," or sdm hat, "three final." 



1 Book 1, Chap. 94. 



2Cat. No. 152548, U.S.N.M. Gift of Stewart Culin. Chinese Games with Dice and 

 Dominoes, fig, 1, Report U. S. Nat. Mus., 1893, p. 492. 

 NAT MUS 90 53 



