852 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



India, consist of a cloth or board, sixteen wooden or ivory pieces or 

 men, and seven cowrie shells. The board consists of four rectangles, 

 with their narrow sides so placed as to form a square in the center 

 (tig. 159). Each rectangle is divided into twenty-four small squares, 

 consisting of three rows of eight squares each. The game is usually 

 played by four i)ersons, each of whom is furnished with four ivory or 

 wooden cones called gate of a peculiar color for distinction, and takes 

 his station opposite one of the rectangles. His pieces, gote, start one 

 by one from the middle row of his own rectangle, beginning at the 



Fijr. 159- 

 PACHISI CLOTH. 

 From Korean Games 



division next to the large central space. They then proceed all around 

 the outside rows of the board, passing, of course, through those of the 

 adversaries' rectangles, traveling from right to left (i. e., contrary to 

 the sun) until they get back to the central row from which they started. 

 Any piece is liable, however, to be taken up and thrown back to the 

 beginning, as in backgammon, by any of the adversaries' pieces hap- 

 pening to fall upon its square, except in the case of the twelve priv- 

 ileged squares (called chik, 'forts'), which are marked with a cross; 

 in that case the overtaking piece can not move from its position. Their 



