78 Mr. W. W. Rouse Ball [March 12, 



in lecturing on the subject — I can hardly propose that for the first 

 time, now and here, without individual help you should make the 

 designs you will see later. To enjoy the occupation, however, you 

 must be able to make them, and, bold though I may seem, I venture 

 to assert that if once you acquire this knowledge you will find pleasure 

 in applying it. 



It is a truism, and in fact a truth as well, that all sensible people 

 have hobbies. I am not alone in finding that the collection of 

 string figures is an agreeable hobby, and it may be added a very 

 cheap one, while friends who have learnt the rules tell me that in 

 convalescence and during tedious journeys the amusement has helped 

 to while away many a long hour ; moreover the figures are easy to 

 weave, they have a history, and they are capable of many varieties. 

 Thus even in England the game may prove well worth the time spent 

 in learning to play it : and admittedly to the very few who travel 

 among aborigines it may sometimes be of real service. 



It would be absurd to talk about string figures if you do not 

 know what they are ; so before I go any further let me show you 

 what is meant by the term. These figures may be divided into three 

 classes, a, fi.y, according as (a) the production of a design, of (/?) the 

 illustration of some action or story, or (y) the creation of a surprise 

 effect is the object desired ; it will be desirable to begin by giving 

 one or two examples of each class. 



The designs reproduced in Figs. 1 and 2 are well-known forms 

 which will serve as illustrations of figures in Class a. The first of 

 them, a zig-zag design, termed Lightning, is due to the Navaho 

 Red Indians who live on the Mexican border of Arizona, where the 

 customs of the Red Man have not yet been wholly destroyed by 



Fig. 1. — Lightning. 



civilization and law. [The figure as shown by the Lecturer was 

 made by successive movements, as set out in the next paragraph.] 

 The construction is simple and no digital skill is involved. You see 

 the final result appears suddenly, almost dramatically, and I regard 

 this as an excellent feature of it. Observe also that the production 

 of the figure is rapid. Timing myself, I find I take well under ten 

 seconds to make it. I think quickness, which comes easily as soon 



