9. Peke (kind of mancala, or African backgammon). A number of holes are made in a circle on the ground, and the players either take as many palm nuts as they can in so many handfuls, or procure them as in liba (see game 8); then they put one nut into each hole, and the one whose nuts pass the holes of the other’s, wins; if his nuts fall short of the other’s, he loses. The game is very complicated, and its rules little understood by any European.
10. Lobesi, or the game of pitch-and-toss with six counters. The counters are called mbesi; the light side of the counter is nke, the dark side is mpili. The stakes (libeta) are taken up when the counters in three throws either fall dark side up (mpili), or light side up (nke), or three of each (miu matu = three eyes). The person putting down the stakes is mobeti wa libeta, the place of playing is ekali, and the turn to play is ngala, and pula is to demand a second set of throws with the mbesi. In this game there is always a large amount of gambling for brass rods and anything else of value, in fact, slaves are sometimes staked on the throw. I never knew it to be played except for gambling purposes.
11. Nsoko. In this game it is necessary to make a table (juku) of four lengths of plantain stalks, two 3 feet long, and two 2 feet long, and these are so placed as to make an oblong, and the space is filled with earth or sand in a concave shape, and on this concave bed some pieces of plantain leaves are smoothly spread. The teetotums are made from the large Calabar (nsoko, hence the name of the game) beans. A hole is bored through the middle of each bean, and through the hole is pushed a splinter of wood to form a peg ¾ in. long on the under side, and about 3½ inches on the upper. This is called the mundindi. The juku and the nsoko being prepared, the players, as many as can sit at the table, take their places, and one having taken the mundindi between the extended palms of his hands, he rubs it to and fro to give it momentum, and then he drops the teetotum on the table, where it spins rapidly. In the meantime another has done the same, and on the two revolving tops colliding, one is knocked out and becomes the property of the one whose teetotum is left on the “board.” If both are knocked out they begin again. If one teetotum holds the “board” for a round, the owner of it is monzo (the best spinner). He who procures the most tops belonging to the others is the winner.
12. Molangu (hoop). The lads take sides, each side having a town (mboka) about 30 yards apart; and each lad has a piece of string from 6 to 8 feet long weighted at the ends. All being ready the hoop is rolled along from town A towards town B, and as it approaches a lad steps out and throws one end of his string at the hoop, and lets the string run freely from his hand. His object is to entangle his string about the hoop. When the hoop stops and falls, he goes and picks up one end of his string and swings the hoop round his head as he takes it back to the throwing side A. If he succeeds he has repulsed the enemy, and it counts as one game to his side. If he misses the hoop, then the enemy has entered his town, and it is reckoned as one game to the town A, and the town B has to roll the hoop towards their opponents. If the hoop happens to come off the string while being twirled, then the side of the twirler loses, and he has to take the hoop back to his own town and throw it to the town of the enemy. Each lad steps out in turn for a throw of the hoop, and for a throw at the hoop.
By permission of - Prof. F. Starr.
This Design is called Sanduku, or Box.
13. Nka, or cat’s cradle, is well known to the lads and lasses, and many an hour is spent in working out the different designs on their fingers and toes. The following are the names of a few patterns: (1) Moleki na nkusu, snare for a parrot, because of its similarity to a snare; (2) Mwana muntaka, girl, because of its large, oval shape; (3) Mwana lele, boy, because it has a small waist; (4) Julututu, spider; (5) Nkungu, a triangular pattern. There is a very large number of designs, but some children are more expert than others in forming them accurately and easily.
By permission of - Prof. F. Starr.
This Design is named Ndako, or House. If the picture is turned upside down the Pitch of the Roof will be clearly seen, the Ridge-pole and Wall-plates.
