Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-15
HAB- ENI-HAN.
Game Played by Egyptians as Adapted
to Modern Ideas

to Modern Ideas
Among tlss paintings upon one of
the Egyptian tombs is a representation
OF the hab-enihan, or q me of the
vase. However it was originally plaved
for all that is known of il is the
picture and its name, it can be played
If way to delight nineteenth century
Children fully as much as it ever could
have done the ancient Egyptians.
10 play the game it is necessary first
to make the target To do this take
sheet of paper about three feet square
or less wrapping paper will do very
well, or even an old newspaper-and
'raW upon ii with common writing
INK twelve conccntric circles at equal
distances apart This can be done by
driving n tack or large pin in the
center OF the paper, tying a string to
the tack and a soft lead pencil to the
other end of the string.
When you have thus drawn the
twelve circles, you can go over the
lines with ink, and number the spaces
between the lines, tack your paper to
a drawing board, bread board, or any
fat wooden surface and your target is
complete
Let each player furnish himself VITA
a dozen pins thrust through bits Of
cardboard or paper, upon each If
which is written a number or initial
different from those of the other
players, and also with a catapult blow
gun, small boy and arrow or dart
Standing off at whichever distance is
agreed upon from tho target, each
player in turn discharges whatever
missiles is used in the game at the
target. and he sets one of his pins in
the circle he strikes
If he hits enc Of the black lines he
lcses his turn, but if he does not strike
the target at all he is out Of the game
After the first shot the player can
either remove pin already placed
into the circle he mas last struck, or
set another of his pins in il, or count
ing from where any one OF his pins
are stuck, can move tfat pin IS many
circles toward the center as is indicted
by the number of the circle he has
struck.
If this brings him to the center and
leaves something over, he can use the
remainder to place a lew pin or carry
another forward
If while one player has a pin in a
circle another player can place two
pins in the same circle, the latter cap
lures the pin already there and re-
moves it.
If, however, player strikes a circle
already occupied by two pins. he does
not lose his unless third pin other
than his own can be stuck in the same
circle.
The circles ere numbered from the
outside to the center. The game con
sists in a specified number of points,
generally from % to so if two are play
ing, Or more, according to the add-
tional number Of those engaged in the
game. When one of the players has no
more pins on the target the game is
ended.
Each player counts the number Of
his pins which have reached the cen
Ter and the number of pins he has
captured. and he who has most adds
&c his the number of pins left in the
target.
II is an exciting game when two
players have each a pin in the same
ring and each pin is getting nearer
the center; the apprehension and in
terest increase with the danger that
having so many pins behind, one Of
the other pins may by a lucky shot
capture his
The aim Of the player is threefold-to
protect his pins by getting more than
one in the same circle. 70 gra1uallv
wn his way toward the center and TO
lie constantly on the alert TO take his
opponents pins
As the taking OF one Of the pins
counts for as much as getting one Of
his own home. it is advisable to use
every endeayor to ctLiure the enemy
pieces, 7nd this is done by keeping
biz pins behind them. so az to he able
10 take any advantage that may offer
The game can be played on table
rs using dice or a tee totum instead Of
arrows, darts or anything OF the sort.
but played in this way the element Of
chat &C takes Tire place largely Of that
o. skill, and makes il less interesting
at least to young folks.