112 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
The game of Platter is more intricate, and is 
played with the claws of<a bear, or some other 
animal, marked with various lines and charac- 
ters. These dice, which are eight in number, 
and cut flat at their large end, are shook together 
in a wooden dish, tossed into the air and caught 
again. The lines, traced on such claws as hap- 
pen to alight on the platter in an erect position, 
indicate what number of counters the caster is to 
receive from his opponent. 
They have, however, a much more manly 
amusement termed the Cross, although they do 
not engage even in it without depositing consi- 
derable stakes. An extensive meadow is chosen 
for this sport, and the articles staked are tied to 
“a post, or deposited in the custody of two old 
men. The combatants being stript and painted, 
and each provided with a kind of battledore or 
racket, in shape resembling the letter P, with 
a handle about two feet long, and a head loosely 
wrought with net-work, so as to form a shallow 
bag, range themselves ondifferent sides. A ball 
being now tossed up in the middle, each party 
endeavours to drive it to their respective goals, 
and much dexterity and agility is displayed im 
the contest. When a nimble runner gets the ball 
in his cross, he sets off towards the goal with the 
utmost speed, and is followed by the rest, who 
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