1920.] 
Andersen.—Maori String Games. 
91 
double loop on each thumb and a single loop on each little finger, the near 
little-finger string passing round the double loop on the thumbs with a 
sheep-shank hitch that holds those loops tight.) (Fig. 9.) 
9. Release the thumbs, taking care to hold the strings taut, and it will 
be found that the hitch holds the double loops and prevents their slipping. 
10. Insert the right thumb from above into the little-finger loop, and 
withdraw the right little finger. 
11. Insert the index, middle, and ring fingers of the left hand into the 
little-finger loop, so that all four fingers are there. By working the fingers, 
cause the string holding the loops to slip to the right. (Fig. 10.) The right 
loop represents the woman, the left loop the man. The fleeing woman 
approaches the thumb, she slips over, she thinks she has escaped—or per- 
adventure she does not, for presently she runs into the arms of the pursuing 
man, and there is no escape. 
Fig. 10.— Mouti. During movement 11. 
This flight and pursuit is the object of the figure, and its action causes 
never-failing amusement. Whilst the chase is in progress the following 
ancient verse is repeated - 
Moti, moti, mol haere, moi haere, 
Moti, moti, moi haere, moi haere, 
Ana kapeape an noa, ka raparapa noa, 
Aue ! Arara ! 
Haere ki te tihoihoi. . . e. 
A. ' ' •• T inert ; 
Comparison. 
With this figure may be compared one given by Mrs. Jayne (pp. 16 
et seq.), “ the fighting head-hunters 55 from Murray Island, Torres Straits, 
where it is called ares. 
1. Opening A. 
2. Insert the little fingers from above into the thumb loop, and pick 
up on their backs the near thumb string. Straighten the little fingers, 
taking the thumb loop quite off the thumbs. 
3. Insert the thumbs from below ihto the little-finger loop, and bring 
back with them under all the other strings the two near little-finger strings. 
(This is most easily done by resting the two strings on the back of the 
second joint of the thumb, bending the top joint as the strings are brought 
away.) Straighten the thumbs, and release the loops from the little fingers. 
(There are now two loops round each thumb, and a loop round each index ) 
