HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR, 
271 
as an amusement to many. Trials of strength are also 
made by lifting stones, and sometimes by throwing them as 
in the game of quoits. 
Seizing calves, and sometimes bullocks, however fierce, 
by the hump on the back, and clinging to them until 
they fall, in defiance of all their efforts to escape, is a 
popular amusement, requiring skill, strength, courage, and 
agility. 
A play with pebbles, by throwing them up and receiving 
them on the back of the hand, throwing them again from 
the back, and receiving them on the palm, and repeating 
this a given number of times without dropping beyond 
a certain number, is also a popular amusement with young 
people of both sexes. Tops and kites have also been 
introduced. Fire-works are scarcely known. Boxing and 
fencing have been heard of, but do not seem to accord 
with the genius of the Malagasy; and whoever should 
attempt to render them popular, would probably be treated 
by the police as disorderly and quarrelsome persons, and 
compelled to find some other occupation for their leisure 
hours. 
Another game, of a more sober character, and more 
general than any of these, is called katra, and somewhat 
resembles drafts. A large stone or board is prepared, 
with a given number of divisions, and small pebbles or 
seeds, about the size of nuts, are used as the drafts or 
dice. The notice of this game is attended with some 
degree of pleasure, from having advanced one step nearer 
to what is intellectual in the amusements of the Malagasy. 
Thirty-two small square holes are cut in an oblong board, 
used in playing at this game. Boards of this kind is kept 
in many of the houses; and in some places the game is 
followed out of doors, and the square holes are cut in 
