ON SIAMESE LITERATURE. 



383 



piece stands with one of the adversaries' on each side of him, or with these 

 and others in his rear, he takes the whole. Or the game may be varied 

 according to agreement, or one piece may oppose sixteen. It can be moved 

 in any direction not diagonally, and takes by leaping over one piece at a 

 time if there is a blank square behind. 

 Leu Thoa is a game of chance. 



3 



2 



4 



1 



A cross is made with chalk on the floor and numbered at the inner 

 angles 1,2,3,4. There is no restriction to the number of players. The 

 holder of the bank sits opposite No. 4, He has several hundred cowries 

 which represent pieces of money — these he conceals under a cover so that 

 the players may not be able to guess the number. 



The latter now stake what sums they please opposite any of the 

 angles — and they may join their chances by depositing one counter each 

 on one of the four lines. The banker being satisfied with the stakes, no 

 more can be deposited. He then counts out by fours the counters in his 

 bank — and whatever odd number remains after this operation indicates the 

 corresponding one in the cross — by which he wins all the stakes deposited 

 in the opposite one. Thus if the odd number, or that which should remain 

 (after telling out) less than four, be two, the holder pays all the stakes 

 corresponding with that number, and takes all deposited at No. 4. If the 

 remaning number be three, he pays for its stakes, and wins all in angle 

 No. 1. 



The players sit in a circle at a distance from the places where the 

 stakes are deposited — and they push on their stakes with sticks having 

 hoops at their ends — to prevent unfair play. 



