Bakula was always selected to find the needle because of his quick ear, whenever the following game was played with biti and needle: The players were divided into two sides, which we will call A and B. All the players had a musical instrument called a biti, which is a kind of marimba. Side A sent out one of its men, and secreted a needle in his absence in full view of side B, which the one sent out had to find guided only by side B playing simultaneously an agreed-upon note. Side B decided what the guiding note should be.
On the return of the needle-seeker, side B began to play their biti, and when the needle-seeker approached near the hiding-place of the needle, the guiding note was played, and as he receded from it the guiding note was left out of the tune.
The needle-seeker had not only to find the needle, but also to name the guiding note. If he found the needle, it counted one game to his side, and either he or another on side A went out again. When he failed in his search then it counted one game to side B, and one on that side went out.
Of course the biti players tried to hide the guiding note by playing rapidly, and covering it with variations on the other metal reeds. A quick ear to catch the repetition, or the absence of a particular note was necessary for this game.
1. SCHOOLBOYS PLAYING HOCKEY.
2. AT THE GIANT STRIDE.
3. GYMNASTICS.