Primitive Games. 275 



vellers, force the whole lot of them over on their sides 

 on to the ground, as heavy rain lays long grass. Next, 

 the travellers turn over so that they lie no longer on 

 their sides but flat on their backs, but snll in line. Then 

 the two home-stayers hold the pole longitudinally over 

 the nearest of the prostrate travellers, and he seizing the 

 pole with his fingers and toes is carried across the play- 

 ground and placed, still flat on his back, in another 

 place. Then the next is lifted in the same way and 

 ranged side by side with the first ; and this is continued, 

 two sometimes being carried on the pole at once, until 

 the whole line of travellers has been removed and 

 deposited in the original regular order in a new place. 

 This is portaging the boats and goods overland to 

 avoid the worst falls on the homeward journey. 

 Next the two home-stayers, one after the other, run 

 quickly along the line, finding room for their feet in 

 among the legs of the prostrate travellers, who it must be 

 remembered are placed as closely as possible the one 

 beside the other, and who endeavour vainly, by the 

 movements of their legs, to upset the runners. The 

 boat is being guided through the intricate system of 

 rocks which in the dry season block the stream. Then 

 the home-stayers, taking each traveller in turn by 

 the head, raise the perfectly stiffened bodies on to 

 their feet. As soon as this has been accomplished 

 each individual in the line falls forward on to his 

 hands and feet, his thighs the highest part of him. Thus 

 the whole line of players forms with their closely 

 pressed bodies a long tunnel through which each player 

 in turn has to creep as best he may, as a canoe through 

 a tree-arched creek. 



M M2 



