D6, toC7,takingB8, A9; then
„B6,„A5;
„B5,„B4, B3, B2, B1.

Now the White piece must stop awhile, for although the Black piece at B7 is under his range, yet in taking it he would be transgressing the two laws mentioned above. He would have to return to B6, which he has just quitted, and he would be ‘eating at both ends like a leech,’ which is improper. But the Black piece on B7 may now very properly provide for his own safety and circumvent his assailant by advancing thus:

B7, toC7,takingD7, E7; then
„D6,„E5; then
„D5,„D4, D3, D2, D1; then
„E5,„C5, B5.

These moves are not given as examples of what the Malagasy would consider good play, but simply to show the modus operandi of the game.

If the game happens to terminate in a ‘draw,’ which is frequently the case, then the combat may be recommenced on the same terms, the other side now taking the first move. Should one of the players have been defeated, however, he is not allowed to play on the same footing as before, for the game must be altered in a kind of mocking condescension to his weakness. The new form of the game is called véla; the one who has conquered is the mpàmpihinam-béla (he who allows to graze at large). The defeated is hómam-béla (a poor sheep not to be molested for awhile in his pasture-ground). The véla game is opened by the vanquished, and the victor exposes such of his pieces as he chooses to surrender to his antagonist. These pieces may only be taken singly, and the generous conqueror refrains from taking any of his enemy’s pieces until he has parted with, one by one, seventeen of his own; then with the remaining five he begins his campaign against the undiminished forces of his antagonist. If he be a skilful player, however, he has managed meanwhile to occupy the fortress positions of the game, and the hosts of the enemy are probably huddled together in such situations that he will come down on them ‘like a wolf on the fold.’ If the hómam-béla is again defeated he is only allowed to play the véla form of the game until he has redeemed himself by a victory. Or he may choose to humiliate himself by openly confessing his inferiority, though, as one of my informants says, ‘few of the Malagasy are willing to do that.’ In ancient times grace was accorded to the beaten combatant on condition of his kneeling down before his conqueror and bleating like a sheep (mibàrarèoka), in confession of his weakness.

Here is a specimen of the véla game, including the preliminary sacrificial moves by which Black gives up, one by one, the fated seventeen pieces. Then the time of reprisals comes, and the five survivors take the field, and give and take no quarter.

Véla Game.
White.Black.
1.C4toC5takesC6.1.C3toC4.
2.C5„C6„C4.2.B4„C3.
3.D4„C5„B6.3.A7„B6.
4.C5„B4„A3.4.A8„A7.
5.D5„C5„B5.5.A2„A3.
6.E5„D4„C3.6.A9„A8.
7.C2„C3„C1.7.A3„A2.
8.D2„C2„B2.8.B1„B2.
9.B4„B5„B3.9.A4„A3.
10.C3„B3„A3.10.A2„A3.
11.D4„C3„B2.11.A3„A2.
12.C2„B2„A2.12.A8„A9.
13.B5„B4„B6.13.A5„B6.
14.B4„B5„B6.14.A7„B6.
15.B5„B4„B6.15.B7„B6.
16.B4„B5„B6.16.A9„A8.
17.C6„B6„A6.17.Now begins Black’s attack.
B8toA7takesC9;
„B7„C7, D7, E7.
18.D9„C9„B9.18.C8„B8„D1, E8.
„C7„D6;
„D8„E9;
„E7„C9;
„D6„C5;
„C6„E6;
19.B6„A6„C6.19.B7„B6„B5;
20.A6„A7„A8.20.B6„C5„A7;
„C4„C3;
„D4„E4;
„C3„B2;
„D2„E1;
„C1„E3;
„B1„D1;
„B2„B3.
21.D3„C3. 21.A1„A2.
22.C3„D4„B2.22.A2„A3.
23.E2„D2. 23.A3„B3.
24.D2„C1 and wins.

CHAPTER XVIII.—THE AMERICAN PUZZLES.