To watch the king and chieftains playing leisurely at tops,
While the country’s bowling gaily down to hell.”
—Hugh Clifford (adapted from Rudyard Kipling). [↑]
[171] More probably India or Persia (?). [↑]
[172] Taken from Clifford and Swett., Mal. Dict., s.v. Châtor. [↑]
[173] Notes and Queries No. 1, sec. 23, issued with J.R.A.S., S.B. No. 14. Quoted in Denys, Descriptive Dictionary of British Malaya, s.v. Cards. [↑]
[174] Selangor Journal, vol. v. No. 13, pp. 210–12. I may add that luck in gaming is largely thought by the Malays to depend upon fortunate dreams. Vide p. 563, infra. [↑]
[175] I cannot find either ping, ning, or biling in the dictionaries, and the only chance perhaps of finding out the meaning will be to collate the rhymes used for this game in other States. I have heard it several times here, and it has always been the same. [↑]
[176] Probably the species of sea-turtle known by that name. [↑]
[177] The ordinary Indian name for “clarified butter,” which is used largely in Eastern cookery. [↑]