NINE HOLES, OR EGG-HAT.
Near a wall where the ground is level dig nine or a less number of holes, according to the number of players, large enough for a ball to be bowled in without difficulty. Number them, and let each player be allotted a number, by chance or choice as it may be agreed. A line is drawn about five yards from the holes, at which one of the players places himself, and bowls the ball into one of the holes. The player to whom the hole into which the ball is bowled belongs picks it up as quickly as he can, and endeavors to strike one of the others with it (the latter will run off as soon as they perceive that the ball is not for themselves); if the thrower miss his aim, he loses a point, and is called "a fiver," and it is his turn to bowl; if, however, he strike another, he loses nothing; but the party so struck, in case he fail to hit another with the ball, becomes "a fiver," and it is his turn to bowl. Five or six may be struck in succession, and the ball may be kept up, no matter how long, until a miss be made, when the party so missing loses a point and bowls. It is also allowed for one player to accept the ball from another, and run the risk of striking a third; thus, if A stand close behind B, and C have the ball in front of B, A may signify by motions that he will take the ball, which is then thrown toward him by C; he catches it, and endeavors to strike B before he can run away; if he miss, he loses a point, and bowls. The second bowling is conducted precisely as the first; but he who bowls three times without passing the ball into a hole loses a point, and if he have lost one before, becomes "a tenner"; he must still go on, until he succeeds in putting the ball into a hole; it is his own fault if he bowls into that which belongs to himself. A party who misses his aim a second time becomes a "tenner," he who loses a third point "a fifteener," and when four points are lost, the party stands out. The game goes on until all the players are out but one; the latter wins the game.
This game is sometimes called "Egg-Hat," on account of the players using their caps instead of digging holes; the ball, in this case, is tossed into the caps instead of being bowled into the holes.