"HERE COMES A POOR SAILOR FROM BOTANY BAY."
"Here comes a poor sailor from Botany Bay;
Pray, what are you going to give him to-day?"
is played as a preliminary game to decide who shall join sides in the coming tug-of-war.
The chief delight of the youngsters playing "Here comes a poor sailor," is in putting and answering questions. All are warned before replying.
"You must say neither 'Yes,' 'No,' 'Nay,'
'Black,' 'White,' or 'Grey.'—
Now what are you going to give him to-day?"
"A pair of boots."
"What colour are they?"
"Brown."
"Have you anything else to give him?"
"I think so; I'll go and see."
"What colour is it?"
"What is this made of?" pointing to a coat or other article.
"Cloth."
"And the colour?"
"Brown."
"Have you anything else to give him?"
"I don't think so."
"Would you like a sweet?"
"Yes."
The examination is finished, for one of the fatal replies has been given. The child who exclaimed "Yes" goes to a den. After taking all the children through the same form of questioning the youngsters are found divided into two classes, those who avoided answering in the prohibited terms, "Yes," "No," "Nay," "Black," "White," "Grey," and the little culprits in the den or prison who have failed in the examination. The tug-of-war now begins, either class being pitted against the other. No rope is used; arms are entwined round waists, skirts pulled, or coat-tails taken hold of.