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"Here comes a poor sailor
from Botany Bay." This is played as a preliminary game to decide who
shall join, and which side they will take, in a coming tug-of-war. The
chief delight derived is in putting and answering questions. Two
principals, standing as rival chiefs, and acting together as catechists,
begin the play; and all are warned before replying:---
You must say neither
"Yes," "No." nor "Nay," "Black," "White," nor "Grey."
Then, as each child
approaches, the formula proceeds:-
Here comes a poor
sailor from Botany Bay
Pray, what are you going to give him to-day?
A pair of boots [may be the answer].
What colour are they?
Brown.
Have you anything else to give him?
I think so.
What colour is it?
Red.
What is it made of?
Cloth.
And what colour?
Blue.
Have you anything else to give him?
I don't think so.
Would you like a sweet?
Yes.
Now he is trapped. He has
given one of the fatal replies; and the child who answered "Yes" goes to
a den. After all have gone through a similar form, the youngsters are
divided into two classes—those who avoided answering in the prohibited
terms, and the little culprits in the den, or prison, who hunt failed in
the examination. The tug-of-war now begins, the one class being pitted
against the other. No rope is used but arms are entwined round waists,
or skirts, or coat tails are taken hold of and the victors crow
over the vanquished. |
