34 THE SPORTS AND GAMES OF THE SINGHALESE. 



and two cross lines at right angles to it. f The player or 

 the tiger lays down his piece first, and as the apex of the 

 triangle is the most advantageous, chooses that. The 

 other player then lays down a piece when the tiger makes 

 a move. Until all the seven pieces are laid, there is very 

 little chance, if skilfully played, of taking a piece or check- 

 ing the tiger. When all the pieces are laid, the moves go 

 on with greater deliberation until either the tiger is check- 

 ed, or the greater number of leopards being taken, all hopes 

 of checking the former is lost ; when the game ends. 



The " Taking of the Castles" is played exactly the 

 same as draughts, each player taking one diagonal half of 

 the board, which is a square with a reversed triangle in the 

 middle of each side, and forty-nine intersections^ in all. 

 The counters are of different colors, generally coffee beans 

 and Indian corn seeds. Each player lays down his twenty - 

 four pieces, covering all the points and intersections with the 

 exception of the middle one. The first move made into 

 this point is a sacrifice, for the piece is immediately taken 

 by his opponent, and so the game proceeds until one party 

 is entirely checked or has all his pieces taken. 



Niranchy\ which is the same as " Nine men's morrice", 

 is a very common game, played by both young and old, in 

 the intervals of business. The game is won when a player 

 succeeds in laying down three pieces in a line, while the 

 object of the opponent is to prevent this by giving check. 

 Should the game not have been decided by the time one of 

 the players has laid down his twelve men, the game pro- 

 ceeds by moves. 



f See Diagram A. 

 % See Diagram B. 



§ See Diagram C. 



