Cornish Feasts and Folk-lore

by M. A. Courtney

Buck shee, buck,

is another game of chance, and is generally played by three boys in the following way. One stands with his back to a wall, the second stoops down with his head against the stomach of the first boy, “forming a back,” the third jumps on it, and holds up his hand with the fingers distended, saying—

“Buck shee, buck, shee buck,

How many fingers do I hold up?”

Should the stooper guess correctly, they all change places and the jumper forms the back. Another and not such a rough way of playing this game is for the guesser to stand with his face towards a wall, keeping his eyes shut.

Leap-frog is known in Cornwall as “Leap the long-mare,” and there is a curious variation of it called—

Accroshay.

A cap or small article is placed on the back of the stooping boy by each in turn as he jumps over him. The first as he jumps says “Accroshay,” the second “Ashotay,” the third “Assheflay,” and the last “Lament, lament, Leleeman’s (or Leleena’s) war.” The boy who in jumping knocks off either of the things has to take the place of the stooper.