1920.J 
Andersen.—Maori String Games. 
87 
In Opening A there, is a loop on each thumb, and these are therefore 
known as the thumb loops. Each loop has a near string and a far string, 
and for the purpose of nomenclature the thumb side of the hand is the near 
side, the little-finger side the far side. There is a loop on each index, and 
these are known as the index loops. Each of these loops likewise has a near 
string and a far string. Finally, there is a loop on each little finger, and 
these are known as the little-finger loops, each having a near string and a 
far string. In speaking of the loops on the left hand in Opening A, they are, 
in order from the near side, the left-thumb loop, the left-index loop, and 
the left-little-finger loop. Their strings, again, in order from the near side, 
are the near left-thumb string, the far left-thumb string, the near left-index 
string, the far left-index string, the near left-little-finger string, and the 
far left-little-finger string. The loops and strings of the right hand are 
referred to, in the same way, as the right-thumb loop, the near right-thumb 
string, and so on. 
In picking up strings of the fingers, a loop is entered from above or 
below. “ Above ” simply means towards the tips of the fingers, “ below ” 
towards the roots ; so that entering a loop from above means entering 
from the side nearer the tips of the fingers, and entering from below means 
entering from the side nearer the roots of the fingers. 
So, again, should there be two loops on any finger, the upper loop is the' 
one nearer the tips of the fingers, the lower loop the one nearer the roots 
of the fingers. There may be three loops on one finger, when one will be 
upper, one middle, and one lower ; and the strings will be the upper near 
left-index string, middle near left-index string, &c. 
There are many complicated movements, but most may be described 
in quite simple terms, and the above is the only terminology required for 
most of the patterns. There may be extra loops on the middle and ring 
fingers, and on the wrists, but their names are at once understood, and 
their strings follow the nomenclature used for the others. There may also 
be mouth loops or toe loops, which have a “ left ” and “ right ” string 
instead of a “ near ” and “ far ” string. 
Unless taken apart in the right way, many of the figures leave the loop 
in a troublesome tangle. There are usually two straight strings along the 
top and bottom of the finished figure. Take these two strings and draw 
them apart, when the loop will come out clear. 
In order that the scientific nomenclature may be followed should it be 
desired, that used by Drs. Haddon and Rivers, and followed by Miss Haddon, 
is given from Miss Haddon’s book : “A string passing over a digit is termed 
a ‘loop.’ A loop consists of two strings. Anatomically, anything on 
the thumb side of the hand is called ‘ radial,’ and anything on the little- 
finger side is called ‘ ulnar ’ : each loop, therefore, is composed of a radial 
and ulnar string. By employing the terms ‘ thumb,’ ‘ index,’ ‘ middle 
finger,’ ‘ ring finger,’ ‘ little finger,’ and ‘ right ’ and ‘ left,’ it is possible 
to designate any one of the twenty strings that may extend between the 
two hands. A string lying across the front of the hand is a palmar string, 
and one lying across the back of the hand is a dorsal string. Sometimes 
there are two loops on a digit, one of which is nearer the finger-tip than the 
other. Anatomically, that which is nearer to the point of attachment is 
‘ proximal,’ that which is nearer the free end is ‘ distal.’ Thus, of two 
loops on a digit, the one which is nearer the hand is the proximal loop, that 
which is nearer the tip of the digit is the distal loop. Similarly, we can 
speak of a proximal string and a distal string.” 
